TORONTO - Randy Carlyle has muscled in on James van Riemsdyk’s mediocrity.

The Maple Leafs coach doesn’t expect the 6-foot-3, 200-pound winger to start throwing his weight around. That’s something the New Jersey native didn’t do habitually with the Philadelphia Flyers.

But van Riemsdyk didn’t play on the periphery in Philly either, and after the Leafs’ first two games of the season, Carlyle wants the 23-year-old to take charge a little more.

It would be great for all involved if van Riemsdyk picked it up a notch or two starting on Wednesday when the Leafs visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. As much as van Riemsdyk, or any other Leaf for that matter, would have benefited from playing in exhibition games, it’s something no one can worry about now.

“I see a guy who is in between,” Carlyle said of van Riemsdyk. “We have talked about it.