In a 1-on-1 interview with The Hockey News, Bruins forward James van Riemsdyk discusses the adjustments he's faced – both on and off the ice – since signing in Boston on July 1.

BRIGHTON, Mass. – The Boston Bruins experienced more roster turnover than most teams this offseason, yet of the expected top six forwards, only one was not on the team last season.

James van Riemsdyk, the 34-year-old winger, does not feel the same sting as the rest of the remaining 2022-23 Bruins, who crashed out of the first round after breaking the NHL record for wins (65) and points (135). That said, the 2007 No. 2 overall pick isn’t any less motivated for redemption.

“There hasn’t been too much talk about that, to be honest,” van Riemsdyk told The Hockey News. “I think in that sense, we’re in the same boat. Everyone’s hungry to win. I know what stage in my career I’m at, and you only get so many chances left.”

While the Bruins found success at every turn during the 2022-23 regular season, van Riemsdyk hit a roadblock with the Philadelphia Flyers. After starting the year with five points in as many games, van Riemsdyk fractured his finger, keeping him out for over six weeks. He finished with 12 goals and 29 points in 61 games.

The goal total was his lowest since 2011-12, when he scored 11 in 43 games. Now healthy and hoping to start off as strongly as he did a year ago, van Riemsdyk has an opportunity to rebound with a new set of linemates.

The Bruins experimented with countless line combinations during training camp, but one constant has been van Riemsdyk and Brad Marchand as the top two left wings. In that role, van Riemsdyk's often been paired with the ‘Czech Mates,’ Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak.

“I’ve played against both of them for a while now, so [I do know a lot] about them as far as how great of players they are,” van Riemsdyk said. “I don’t know if that’s the ‘Czech Factor’ or what that is, but their games definitely seem to complement each other very well, and they seem to know what each other is thinking, so I’m just trying to read off of them and do what I do.”

The biggest part of that learning process has been positioning. Van Riemsdyk is finding out where they like him to be when engaged in a puck battle, and where they place themselves when he has the puck himself.

As is the case when establishing chemistry with any set of new teammates, there has been a learning curve. Not only with Zacha and Pastrnak, but with the entire system as well.

Bruins coach Jim Montgomery has emphasized wanting to play a physical brand of hockey and being responsible defensively, but van Riemsdyk was struck by the detail within the offensive play structure.

“It helps you kind of get on the same page offensively,” van Riemsdyk said. “Off of that, I think things open up and different plays can open up and you can just play hockey. So just having some different foundational principles has been pretty cool, and you don’t see many coaches kind of focus on that ‘with the puck’ offensive side of the game.”

Van Riemsdyk believes those foundations are starting to become “second nature,” which is helping him on the top power play unit, where he’s been inserted with Zacha, Pastrnak, Marchand and Charlie McAvoy.

At 6-3, 208 pounds, van Riemsdyk’s size gives him an advantage at the net front, which is where Montgomery believes he excels on the man advantage.

“Just his hand-eye coordination, how good he is at tipping pucks, screening and also making plays from the goal line,” Montgomery said. “He’s done it for so long that he just seems to always be in the right spot at the right times.”

Off the ice, the transition has been more seamless for van Riemsdyk. He joins the team at the same time as fellow 2007 first-rounder Kevin Shattenkirk, who he’s known since their playing days in NCAA’s Hockey East – van Riemsdyk with New Hampshire and Shattenkirk with Boston University. They also live around the corner from each other and have children at similar ages.

Milan Lucic got in touch with van Riemsdyk when they each signed with Boston on July 1, but the camaraderie extends far beyond just a couple of teammates.

“It’s hard to really single out anyone just because everyone’s been so welcoming and inviting to their group,” van Riemsdyk said. “I think that’s a huge part of why the team has so much success in [recent] years.”

Entering Year 15, van Riemsdyk is hoping that success continues, overcoming last year’s disappointment.

“There’s a lot of great players in here,” he said. “Now again, everyone starts fresh, everyone starts from scratch, and we have to embrace that and start our own journey as a team.”