Philadelphia Flyers

Fond Memories For Flyers’ JVR As He Signs With Bruins

Published

10 months ago

July 2, 2023

James van Riemsdyk. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

James van Riemsdyk, after scoring goal against Kraken. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

James van Riemsdyk had two tenures with the Philadelphia Flyers. First, as the second overall draft pick in 2007. He was full of promise. He had size and a scorer’s hands.

His second stint with the Philadelphia Flyers came after a great six-year run with the Maple Leafs. He became an endangered species with the Flyers — a veteran with a big salary ($7 million) on a rebuilding team.

JVR left the Flyers on Saturday, the first day of free agency. He signed a one-year contract with the Bruins for $1 million. He’s going to the team with the best regular-season record this past season. The team that was stunned in seven games by Florida in the playoffs, the Bruins blowing a 3-1 series lead.

JVR is 34 years old. He has played 940 NHL games and scored 300 goals. He is effective on the power play — 87 of his tallies are with the man-advantage.

“As a player, he was a goal-scorer,” Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said at a news conference Saturday.

“What was amazing is he knew what his strengths were. He was really good around the net. He was really good along the boards. And if you watched him in practice, he spent lots of time working his craft.

“That’s why he was so good and that’s why he had the career, the longevity in his career that he had. He was able to do a lot of things not too many players do when you watch them.

“In the offensive zone, around the net, tipping pucks. You guys have seen him in practice. He worked on it constantly.

“He was a really good example for our young guys as far as the dedication, taking care of himself off the ice. Putting in the time on the ice working on the stuff that made him special.”

‘Great Person Off The Ice’

JVR leaves Philly with his teammates’ respect and Briere’s gratitude.

“He was always a great teammate,” Briere said.

“That’s the one thing you remember about James. Treated everybody with class, with respect. Never rocked the boat. He was easy to get along with. Great person off the ice.”

JVR played 527 games over eight seasons with the Flyers. He scored 146 goals — 42 on the power play — and had 151 assists. The Middletown, N.J., native played 61 games this past season and scored 12 goals and had 17 assists.

The Flyers picked JVR second overall after the Blackhawks won the draft lottery from the fifth position and selected Patrick Kane.

In the 2012 offseason, JVR was traded to Toronto for Luke Schenn. He played with the Maple Leafs from 2012-18. JVR was voted as the 100th best Maple Leaf in history, notable for an Original Six franchise that started playing in 1917.

The Flyers signed JVR as an unrestricted free agent in 2018.

“Everybody’s excited about him having another chance,” Briere said.

“Now, with the Boston Bruins, they were the best team in the NHL in the regular season. I’m sure they have a lot to prove, or want to get back. So I think it’s a great fit for him to go to a good team.”

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