Meltzer's Player Profiles: James van Riemsdyk

It has been 13 years since the Flyers selected left winger James van Riemsdyk with the second overall pick of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Now in the second season of his second tour of duty with the team after rejoining the team via free agency in the summer of 2018, "JVR" has posted 19 goals and 40 points in 66 games played.

Last season, van Riemsdyk set a single-season career high with a 16.2 percent shooting percentage as he compiled 27 goals despite missing 16 games due to injury. This year, the veteran lacked nothing for scoring chances early in the season but it took him eight games to record his first goal and point of the campaign.
Eventually, the streak-scoring veteran got hot and the pucks started to go in with much greater frequency. On March 4, he sustained a broken right index finger in the first period of a road win in Washington.
Goal scoring will always be van Riemsdyk's primary stock in trade. However, he is an underrated passer. Although he'll never be a Selke Trophy candidate, van Riemsdyk has worked hard this season to be a responsible all-around player.
Typically, easy-going and positive-minded by temperament, van Riemsdyk is a well-liked figure throughout the Flyers dressing room and a go-to player for the local media.
5 KEY FACTS:
1) Since his return to the Flyers, JVR has averaged 0.35 goals per game played. That ranks second on the Flyers, behind only Sean Couturier (0.37). On a leaguewide basis, he ranks 52nd among players who have played at least 100 games over the past two seasons.
2) Hot streaks: In the eight game span between Dec. 7 and Dec. 23, van Riemsdyk posted six goals and 11 points. Later, in the five-game stretch between Feb. 8 and 15, he compiled four goals and eight points.
3) van Riemsdyk's on-ice 61.28% expected goals percentage across all manpower situations ranks first on the Flyers and 24th leaguewide among players who have played at least 500 minutes of ice time this season. In terms of on-ice goals for/against, JVR has been on the ice for 61 Flyers goals and only 37 opposition goals.
4) This season, JVR ranks 5th on the team in Fenwick (shot attempt differentials excluding blocked shots) at 53.4 percent.
5) Among van Riemsdyk's 21 assists this season, 14 have been primary helpers. He has seven secondary assists.
Top Highlights
Video: CBJ@PHI: van Riemsdyk has puck go in off skate
Video: CBJ@PHI: van Riemsdyk deflects in Provorov's pass
1) Oct. 26, 2019 vs. CBJ (17:39 2nd period, 12:37 3rd period): JVR took First-Star honors as he scored two goals and assisted on another when the Flyers came back from deficits of 2-1 and 4-2 to pull away and defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 7-4. His power play goal forged a 2-2 tie and he later knotted the game at 4-4 with an even-strength tally.

2) Dec. 19 vs. BUF (15:32 1st period, 12:27 2nd period): Another two-goal performance for JVR as he was selected as the First Star of the game. In this game, however, no comeback was necessary as the Flyers steamrolled the Sabres, 6-1.

3) Feb. 11 @ NYI (9:34 2nd period): JVR's gorgeous backhanded saucer pass across the ice to Travis Konecny set up the first goal of a Flyers three-goal comeback from a 3-0 deficit. This play is a prime example of van Riemsdyk's slick but underrated passing ability. This particular game ended unfortunately, however. JVR accidentally screened Brian Elliott on what proved to be the winning Islanders' goal with 41 seconds left on the 3rd period clock.
THEY SAID IT
"Very highly skilled offensively and easy to play with... He's an elite player in this league. There's a reason why he scores 25-plus every year. He brings a lot to this team."
-- Kevin Hayes, March 4, 2020.
HE SAID IT
"I've always believed that you can't afford to get too high or too low. It's funny. Sometimes it seems like everything bounces your way for awhile and sometimes you can't seem to buy [a break]. But if you are persistent and keep getting to the scoring areas, eventually things will even out and go your way."
-- James van Riemsdyk, Dec. 21, 2019.