Winger van Riemsdyk will get a chance to center Leafs' top line

After years of miscasting unsuitable forwards for the role of No. 1 center, the Toronto Maple Leafs might just have stumbled on one by accident. Coach Randy Carlyle is going to give newcomer James van Riemsdyk a chance to play the middle on the top line between Joffrey Lupul and Phil Kessel, even though the winger has not appeared there in his three-year NHL career. The experiment reflects the difficulty that general manager Brian Burke has had trying to replace Hall of Famer Mats Sundin, who departed before Burke arrived and took a steady record of point-a-game seasons with him. Van Riemsdyk, who last played center at the University of New Hampshire, warmed to the challenge. "It is something that will be a good opportunity for me," he said July 11 in his first public meet-and-greet at the Leafs' training facility. "Any time you can be a little more versatile as a player is a good thing." Van Riemsdyk was acquired in a draft-day trade for defenseman L...