I guess Luke Schenn doesn't get you a first line centre so the Leafs are going to improvise.
Let's face it they cannot go a third season with Tyler Bozak centering the first line although that may still happen. So it appears that the Leafs will experiment with JVR at centre. However that is exactly what Buffalo did with Villie Leino after handing him a 6 year, $24 million contract. After a terrible start, he was back playing the wing by November.
As well, Randy Carlyle while still with the Ducks tried moving Bobby Ryan to centre. That also failed. So despite having played the position in the past, JVR has been a winger in the NHL. His pattern of play is now consistent with playing the wing though he can certainly relearn the centre position. However, the Leafs don't have the luxury of giving him a few months to feel comfortable there. He probably has the preseason games and the month of October.
So by November 1 Bozak may be back on the number 1 line and the search for a legitimate top line centre continues.
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