James van Riemsdyk signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old forward had 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 71 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets last season.
"I have a lot of familiarity with guys on the team and obviously an Original Six team is super exciting too," van Riemsdyk said Wednesday. "It definitely checked a lot of boxes. I think, obviously, having the experience of being through a lot of different things over the course of my career can be a help. That's kind of where I see myself fitting in with the lineup. I think that is how I can help them."
The No. 2 pick by the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2007 NHL Draft, van Riemsdyk has 665 points (327 goals, 338 assists) in 1,082 regular-season games for the Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and Blue Jackets and 36 points (21 goals, 15 assists) in 82 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"'JVR' is a bigger body who scored 19 goals last year and 18 or 19 in each of the last couple seasons," Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said Thursday. "He gives us a lot of flexibility up and down the lineup. If you check his usage in Columbus, that's exactly what they did, he played up on the first line at times and moved up and down. He's also a useful guy on the power play."
Van Riemsdyk said Wednesday that adjusting to a role is something he's learned through time.
"I think as you get older and more experienced, you try to adjust the balance. of playing to your identity, but also being adaptable and versatile, being able to play in different types of roles with different players," he said. "At this stage of my career, it isn't necessarily about dollars and cents. You want to be valued."
The Red Wings signed the No. 1 pick of the 2007 draft, forward Patrick Kane, to a one-year, $3 million contract Monday. Kane and van Riemsdyk were teammates for the bronze-medal winning United States at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship, and at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, World Cup of Hockey 2016 and 2019 IIHF World Championship.
"He's one of my really good buddies and we've obviously kind of been on this whole journey together in a lot of ways," van Riemsdyk said. "We've been through some different USA Hockey things over the years."
On Wednesday the Red Wings signed forward Mason Appleton to a two-year, $5.8 million contract ($2.9 million AAV). The 29-year-old had 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 71 games for the Winnipeg Jets last season and seven assists in 13 playoff games.
He has 138 points (57 goals, 81 assists) in 400 regular-season games with the Jets and Kraken and 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in 32 playoff games.
"Mason Appleton is a right winger that plays on the penalty kill and chips in with some offense," Yzerman said Thursday. "He helps [coach] Todd [MacLellan] put together a real checking line that can also contribute offensively."
NHL.com independent correspondent Dave Hogg contributed to this report
