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Rumblings: Toronto Maple Leafs looking to move James van Riemsdyk?

James van Riemsdyk could be an asset the Leafs dangle to get some help on D. Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images

As TSN colleague Bob McKenzie reported earlier this week on Insider Trading, James van Riemsdyk could potentially be trade bait if the Toronto Maple Leafs try to augment their blue line. Makes sense. Not because the Leafs don’t like van Riemsdyk -- he’s been terrific, leading the team in goals and tied for points through Thursday's games -- but because they are loaded up front with young talent and he’s got one more year left on his deal after this season. The Leafs desperately need to upgrade their D depth. If not before the March 1 trade deadline, perhaps it’s an offseason deal, and maybe it’s not JVR but another Leafs forward, but that’s the kind of deal that makes the most sense for Toronto.