Former second-overall pick James van Riemsdyk signs with Eastern Conference team
Former second-overall pick James van Riemsdyk has signed with an Eastern Conference team.
After going unsigned for two months, 2007 second-overall pick James van Riemsdyk has finally found his new home for the 2024-25 season and will remain in the Eastern Conference.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, James van Riemsdyk has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets worth $900,000.
van Riemsdyk, 35, spent the 2023-24 season with the Boston Bruins where he saw a slight uptick in production when compared to the previous year in Philadelphia. In 71 games, the Middletown, New Jersey native registered 38 points (11 goals, 27 assists), 20 penalty minutes and was a plus-seven. He went on to add five points in 11 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Blue Jackets have been looking at the free agent market wanting to add a veteran forward to their lineup and now have a solid one in James van Riemsdyk, who will likely play a bottom-six role to start the upcoming season.
James van Riemsdyk and the Columbus Blue Jackets will open the 2024-25 season on October 10th against the Minnesota Wild.
Statistics - Hockey Reference
| POLL | ||
Is this a good signing for the Columbus Blue Jackets? | ||
| Yes | 38 | 73.1 % |
| No | 14 | 26.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
