In a reunion with James van Riemsdyk, the Toronto Maple Leafs may yet be able to sign the top unrestricted free agent available in order to bolster their forward corps.
Van Riemsdyk ranks among the top unsigned free agents, per Daily Faceoff. He was named the “Top Remaining Free Agent” by the publication in a July piece authored by Matt Larkin.
The majority of high-profile free agents have already signed their contracts, meaning that the Maple Leafs may still be able to locate a quality player to enhance their offensive in the second wave of free agency. CapFriendly reports that by Larkin’s account, “185 deals totaling $1,211,910,000” billion were inked on July 1.
With Larkin’s revised ranking, Toronto may find Mike Augello’s article on HockeyBuzz.com even more alluring. The NHL source has been hinting at a possible reunion between the team and the unrestricted free agent.
During his time with the Boston Bruins in 2023–24, Van Riemsdyk scored 11 goals and provided 27 assists for a total of 38 points. In 71 games, he had a plus-7 rating, and in 11 postseason games, he scored five points.
The forward signed a one-year contract with the Bruins for a meager $1 million in cap hit. In the 2024 offseason, he is expected to sign a one-year contract worth 1.2 million dollars, according to Daily Faceoff.
The Maple Leafs are considering Van Riemsdyk.
Van Riemsdyk, a former Toronto forward who has been linked to the organization recently, might be one of the final pieces in the Maple Leafs puzzle for the 2024–25 season. The team may attempt to sign him in free agency.
Van Riemsdyk’s signing would bring Toronto and his former forward back together. Van Riemsdyk was a Maple Leaf from the beginning of the 2012–13 season to the end of the 2017–18 campaign.
Mike Augello, an NHL source for HockeyBuzz.com, stated that Toronto is searching for forwards who are affordable as free agents and cited van Riemsdyk as a potential candidate.
Augello stated, “They say you can never go home again, but after spending six seasons in Toronto, the 35-year-old JVR returned to Philadelphia.” “The Leafs are looking for options, but Van Riemsdyk scored 11 goals for Boston last season and his top-six days may be over.”
Van Riemsdyk averaged 13:30 of ice time a game in 2023–24, spending the most of his time on the Bruins’ third line. Playing in the third or fourth forward line would suit the former Bruin’s goal of helping the Leafs bolster their bottom six forward group.
According to Daily Faceoff’s projected depth chart, the Leafs’ bottom six left-wing players include Connor Dewar and Pontus Holmberg. If Toronto signs Van Riemsdyk, his performance in a top-nine role ought to be better than the two.
Six Years of James Van Riemsdyk’s Toronto Stint
On June 23, 2012, the Maple Leafs traded Luke Schenn to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for van Riemsdyk.
When the veteran arrived in Canada, he was a part of a front line that included Joffrey Lupul and Phil Kessel. That line, instead of Lupul, included Tyler Bozak in the next season.
Van Riemsdyk played in 413 regular-season games for the Leafs over his six-year tenure, tallying 294 points with 154 goals and 140 assists. In 20 playoff games with Toronto, he also made an appearance and scored 14 points.
He returned to the Flyers before the 2018–19 season with a five-year, $35 million contract after his time in Toronto. Van Riemsdyk has earned $64.125 million in his career.
Before playing for the Bruins in the 2023–24 NHL season, Van Riemsdyk stayed with the Flyers for a another five years.
Winger Jake DeBrusk signed a free agent contract with the Vancouver Canucks, leaving the Bruins. This may be a factor that Boston general manager Don Sweeney takes into account and tries to pursue when the Bruins re-sign goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman, as it becomes a more urgent matter.
Van Riemsdyk’s chances of playing in Boston again this coming season are slim. A Bruins reunion is unlikely given the team’s “younger players who could jump up in the lineup” and general manager Sweeney’s “clear desire to improve scoring,” as noted by Michael DeRosa of The Hockey News on May 25.
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