Calder Profiles: James van Riemsdyk

NHLHS writer Dave Strehle takes a look at Philadelphia Flyers rookie forward James van Riemsdyk.

The 2006-07 season was the worst in the history of the Philadelphia Flyers’ franchise as they finished last overall, and for their troubles they received the #2 overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft via the Draft Lottery.

With that draft pick, Philadelphia picked left wing James van Riemsdyk, a local kid born in Middletown, New Jersey on May 4th, 1989.  Ironically, van Riemsdyk grew up a fan of the Flyers’ arch-rival New York Rangers.

The 6′ 3″, 200 pound van Riemsdyk took a little longer to make it to the NHL than did the #1 overall pick that year, fellow-American Patrick Kane, who was taken by the Chicago Blackhawks.  While Kane made the jump right to Chicago and eventually won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie that season, van Riemsdyk decided to go to college at the University of New Hampshire.

In 2007-08 he was named to Hockey East’s All-Rookie Team, as he led UNH in rookie scoring with 34 points (11 goals and 23 assists) in just 31 games.

Philadelphia GM Paul Holmgren wanted van Riemsdyk to make the jump to pro hockey to start the 2008-09  season, but James instead stayed for a second season at UNH.  In 36 games, van Riemsdyk recorded a respectable 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points.

Holmgren wondered aloud if his prospect was able to develop properly without making the move to the pros.  When the UNH season ended, van Riemsdyk finally decided that he was ready and on April 1st, 2009 signed an entry-level contract.

He was assigned to the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, where he played in the last 7 regular season games.  He notched a goal and an assist, and played in 4 Phantoms’ playoff games.

When training camp opened for the current 2009-10 season, it was thought that van Riemsdyk would get a taste of playing pre-season games with the big club but then be sent down to the Phantoms, which are now playing in Adirondack.

But after scoring 4 points in 7 pre-season games, including a 2-goal performance against the Detroit Red Wings, van Riemsdyk made the Flyers’ opening night roster.

After registering 6 goals and 12 assists in his first 16 NHL games, van Riemsdyk appeared to have a legitimate shot to become the Flyers’ first-ever winner of the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie.  He was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for November, as he posted 4 goals and 5 assists in 9 games.

Early on, it appeared that the Calder race would be a two-player event between van Riemsdyk and New York Islanders’ wunderkind John Tavares.  But both have tailed off significantly.

van Riemsdyk now has 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points in 66 games, a respectable rookie season with just 13 games to go.

With the seasons had by Matt Duchene of the Colorado Avalanche, defenseman Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres, Tavares of the Isles, and goaltender Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings, it appears that the Philadelphia streak without a Calder Trophy may continue on for at least another season.

And as the 21-year-old JVR’s body and game continue to grow and mature, the Flyers may find that they have themselves a premier power forward in the making, maybe even in a John LeClair mold.   And I’m sure any fan of the Flyers would be more than happy if van Riemsdyk were to develop into that type of player.

David Strehle
NHLHS Flyers Correspondent / NHL Writer
dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @PhilaDAVEia