JVR preparing to leave Philly with a quiet shrug
The Flyers had yet to surrender their soul in the summer of 2007, and when they had their chance to make the second pick in the NHL draft, their choice was clear. If ever there was to be a player custom designed to wear the orange, it would be James van Riemsdyk.
Widely described as a “phenom,” the 6-foot-3, 205-pound wing not only fit the franchise specs for size and strength but also owned a nose for the net, remarkable ice awareness, a pedigree as a force in the United States National Team Development Program and remarkable scoring numbers at the University of New Hampshire. More, he was a borderline local legend, having once scored 30 goals in 36 games to help win a New Jersey state high school championship, Rangers fan that he was while at Christian Brothers Academy.
At the time, reports glowed about the 19-yearold, citing his willingness to take a hit to his helmet, the one from which his long hair dangled from the back. And even if it meant the Flyers had missed out on Patrick Kane, the No. 1 overall pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, they were convinced they had a latter-day Broad Street Bully with a slapshot.
The perfect Flyer.
Van Riemsdyk was trying not to think about that the other day as he sat in front of his locker in Voorhees and exhaled after what was likely his last Flyers practice day. The 33-yearold wasn’t wondering where all the years went, not even the six he spent in Toronto in what would have been the prime of his career. He knew the trade deadline was near, that contending teams were intrigued by his expiring contract and that there was even a chance he could be shipped to Minnesota, where he and his wife, Lauren, have a home with their 2-year-old daughter Scarlett.
He just knew it was over, and that this time, there would be no professional return.
“I’ve got to tell you, this is a great group of guys,” he said. “And there’s the human side of it too, guys checking in, seeing how you are dealing with it, your family and stuff like that. That stuff, you appreciate as a player. These are guys you’ve become close with over time. At the end of the day, when you’re done playing, those are things you will definitely remember.”
Those moments, those connections, those friendships will endure. More difficult to recall, however, will be the truly great moments from a player once deemed destined to provide a career’s worth. Not that van Riemsdyk’s times in the Wells Fargo Center were empty, for he was a contributor to the 2009-10 team, scoring three postseason goals on the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. And he did help the Flyers into the postseason five times.
His best year, 2017-18, was in Toronto, inspiring the Flyers to bring him home for $35,000,000 spread over five years. As it happened, that would dovetail into an era of eternal rebuilding, regression, coaching changes, line changes and general franchise deterioration.
For that, van Riemsdyk will be kindly remembered for his efforts, but never will be a Flyers Hall of Fame candidate, disappointing for a No. 2 overall pick. This season, a mess from the start, van Rismesdyk was paid a little less than a million bucks for each of his nine goals, and John Tortorella couldn’t even make it through February before white-flagging any potential postseason charge. So Chuck Fletcher is selling, rent-a-contracts are appealing, and van Riemsdyk knows how to rent a moving van.
“Every team goes into the season hoping to make the playoffs,” van Riemsdyk said. “But sometimes, you see the positioning and understand that the probability is heading in the other direction. So that’s hard.”
His hair no longer flowing, his presence in the room changed from when
he was learning from Claude Giroux and Danny Briere, and instead is trying to show Owen Tippett and Morgan Frost how it all should be done, van Riemsdyk is ready for what’s next. It might even include another shot at a Cup. He would like that. He just won’t dwell on it.
“I keep an eye on it more than usual,” he said. “But when I’m home I try to unplug and spend some family time.
“You realize things could be happening, so it’s harder to fully block it out. I actually keep my phone on airplane mode most of the time. To get me, you’ll have to send a smoke signal or something.”
By then, a player once destined to be the perfect Flyer will have just disappeared into into the wind.