James van Riemsdyk has signed a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets reportedly value $900,000. The 35-year-old veteran isn’t on the similar degree we noticed from him early in his profession, however he’s nonetheless a strong position participant who can do an excellent job as a middle-six ahead for his new group.
Veteran Presence
Lately, you possibly can’t count on far more than 10-15 objectives per season from van Riemsdyk as he’s fallen off a bit from his days scoring 36 for the Toronto Maple Leafs throughout the 2017-18 season. With that being mentioned, as a third-line winger that’s nonetheless serviceable and he brings a variety of expertise to the desk as nicely. He hasn’t received any {hardware} over the course of his profession, however he’s had some nice seasons over time, particularly throughout his time in Toronto. He additionally performed nicely as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers and even with the Boston Bruins final season.
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Through the 2023-24 season, van Riemsdyk scored 11 objectives and had 27 assists for a complete of 38 factors in 71 video games. Averaging about half a degree per recreation is fairly respectable for a third-line participant.
Match With Columbus
van Riemsdyk is much from a celebrity, however he’s an efficient addition who can nonetheless contribute offensively and in entrance of the online. He’s finest fitted to a third-line position at this level, and that’s doubtless the place he’ll slot in for the Blue Jackets. As a 35-year-old who has by no means lifted the Stanley Cup, his purpose for the rest of his profession appears clear. He’s nearly definitely not going to perform that in Columbus this season, however a robust efficiency with the Blue Jackets would make him excellent commerce bait on the deadline.
The Blue Jackets could play him greater up the lineup as a veteran presence for gamers like Adam Fantilli, or if new head coach Dean Evason breaks up the Russian line, somebody like Kirill Marchenko.
General, the addition of van Riemsdyk provides the Blue Jackets a physique that may fill a place of want over the course of the season. He’ll doubtless be on the transfer as soon as once more on the commerce deadline, which can permit them so as to add one other asset into the combo in just a few months time.
