As a Pens fan I hate to admit that's a good sign. But I'm happy because sign JvR is still not enough to Flyers beat Pens in playoffs. They still have no decent goalie to stop our huge offense.
I'm a Leaf fan who has enjoyed watching him score for the last few years. He's a good guy & I wish him the best.
BUT (and this but is needed)....there's a reason he plays 12 minutes at even strength & a reason why there was no offer from the Leafs.
He's huge defensively liability (partly due to his skating - but mostly due to his effort). I spent 6 years hoping he'd improve. He didn't & likely won't now.
He's good for like 15 powerplay goals a year though - the guy can stand in front of the net & tip pucks like no-one else - he definitely deserves some credit there.
This is just an opinion - but he seems to have a perfectly neutral affect on games (he scores more goals than most & will cost you more goals than most).
I'm a Leaf fan who has enjoyed watching him score for the last few years. He's a good guy & I wish him the best.
BUT (and this but is needed)....there's a reason he plays 12 minutes at even strength & a reason why there was no offer from the Leafs.
He's huge defensively liability (partly due to his skating - but mostly due to his effort). I spent 6 years hoping he'd improve. He didn't & likely won't now.
He's good for like 15 powerplay goals a year though - the guy can stand in front of the net & tip pucks like no-one else - he definitely deserves some credit there.
This is just an opinion - but he seems to have a perfectly neutral affect on games (he scores more goals than most & will cost you more goals than most).
He was sooo good offensively and so horrible defensively his whole career as a Leaf it was almost unbelievable. He typically shied away from body contact which was discouraging as one of our biggest forwards in Toronto.
He had an inflated shooting % this year which inflated his goals to a career high. JVR is being paid almost a MIL more than Marleau, who is admittedly 10 years older, but also a MUCH more complete player. Marleau is a MUCH better skater, plays the body, can play center or the wing properly and also has soft hands around the net.
JVR had a career contract year and cashed in. As a rabid Leaf fan who really liked JVR on and off the ice I must say that I am glad that we didn't give him this contract. I wish him well though.
Not a bad signing, but doesn't JVR fill the same role as Wayne Simmonds? PP net-front guy, poor skater and not great defensively. Does this signal a Simmonds trade?