This former Boston Bruins forward is still looking to land a contract this late into the offseason.
This former Boston Bruins forward is still looking to land a contract this late into the offseason.
Now that September is here, several players are starting to sign professional tryout (PTO) agreements. Among the most notable are Tyler Johnson (Boston Bruins), Tyson Barrie (Calgary Flames), Jakub Vrana (Washington Capitals), Tanner Pearson (Vegas Golden Knights), and Calen Addison (Ottawa Senators).
However, a former Bruins forward is the top free agent available and has yet to land a contract or even PTO this offseason - James van Riemsdyk.
van Riemsdyk, 35, undoubtedly has the potential to get a contract or PTO before training camps around the NHL start. Even after a slow finish to this past regular season, he still finished with 11 goals and 38 points in 71 games. With numbers like these, he could be a solid addition to an NHL club looking for more offensive production in their top nine. He is also still a valuable weapon on the power play because of his net-front presence ability.
It would not be surprising if a team looking for more depth at the left wing position took a chance on van Riemsdyk. While his days as a high-impact top-six forward are gone, he is still plenty good enough to play on the third line and provide strong secondary offensive production. It will be fascinating to see where the 2007 second-overall pick lands from here.
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