The Flyers Show Confidence in James Van Riemsdyk With New Contract
The Philadelphia Flyers are confident in James Van Riemsdyk. They believe he will play a significant role on this team and in the organization’s quest to end its Stanley Cup drought. There wasn’t really any questioning that this June when the Flyers made the decision to remake and reform their roster, leaving JVR as one of their go to guys. Today, they showed the 22 year old New Jersey native just how much they believe in him.
On the heels of Michael Vick’s 6 year contract extension with the Eagles came word of James Van Riemsdyk also being re-upped for 6 years. JVR won’t be making $100 million in his 6 years in the orange and black, but he’ll be fine with his $25.5 million.
James Van Riemsdyk had an interesting season last year, his second in the NHL. He started the year out struggling to put the puck in the net, and even found himself scratched on more than one occasion. Van Riemsdyk turned it on for the Flyers, finishing the season with 21 goals and 19 assists to finish with a respectable 40 points.
It wasn’t so much his regular season that got him this deal, though. In the playoffs, a switch flipped in Van Riemsdyk and he suddenly became a beast. His play elevated and I believe the Flyers saw their future.
In 11 playoff games, JVR scored 7 goals. He was in the middle of everything, and it felt like nothing happened for the Flyers in the playoffs without James Van Riemsdyk somehow being involved.
For the foreseeable future at least, the Flyers won’t have to worry about what it would be like without JVR. He’ll be around for 6 more years.
