In early fall, Don Waddell found himself in desperate need of a forward. There was not only the tragic passing of Johnny Gaudreau, but also the trade of Patrik Laine a week before, and news that Justin Danforth’s recovery from off-season wrist surgery would keep him out for the duration of preseason, and possibly the start of the regular season. There were certainly prospects who could contend, but Waddell knew he needed a reliable veteran presence.
Enter James van Riemsyk, a then-35 year-old with 15 years and 1011 games of NHL experience with the Flyers, Maple Leafs, and Bruins. He made it through summer without getting a contract offer, and was facing the possibility of signing a tryout contract for training camp. Waddell stepped in and offered a guaranteed deal, for one season and $900,000. To JVR’s credit, the recent tragedy didn’t discourage him from signing; on the contrary, he was eager to come in and help his new teammates through it.
Dean Evason used JVR like a wild card, playing him with a revolving door of linemates and moving him up or down the lineup less for JVR’s own play and seemingly more for whatever opportunities other teammates had earned or lost.
I was surprised to see that JVR only missed 11 games; I felt like his scratches had been more frequent than that. A four game stretch in late March probably affects that perception (only one of two times he missed consecutive games). In the games he missed, the Jackets had a 4-7-0 record. With him in the lineup, they were 36-26-9. Coincidence? (Probably)
JVR was at his most effective when he was allowed to play on a scoring line, mostly with Kent Johnson on the opposite wing, and then a young center (Sillinger, Fantilli, or LDBB). He managed to finish 8th on the team in goals scored, despite averaging just 12:24 per game.
2024-25 Stats
Games: 71
Goals: 16
Assists: 20
Points: 36
Plus/Minus: -4
PIM: 23
5v5 Corsi%: 48.9
5v5 Fenwick%: 48.8
5v5 O-Zone Start %: 48.3
Contract
JVR’s one year, $900k contract is up as of July 1. I am curious to see if there is any attempt to bring him back on another short deal. He’s a useful player on the ice still and good in the room, but how many open forward spots will there be? It may come down to a choice between him and Justin Danforth, or neither at all.
High Point
JVR stepped up at a key point in consecutive games against Detroit. First, on February 27 at Dough Louis Arena, he scored a tying goal early in the second period, then added a second goal later in that middle frame to cap a four goal surge that earned the critical road win. Then, on March 1 in the Stadium Series, he earned the second assist on Denton Mateychuk’s goal, the first outdoor goal in Columbus franchise history.
Low Point
On January 31 in Utah, JVR was hit in the mouth by a high stick from Ian Cole which knocked out four teeth and required 30 stitches in the locker room. After the game, when a more proper surgery happened, an x-ray revealed that a tooth fragment had been accidentally sewn in side his lip. OUCH!
Even crazier is that he didn’t miss a game. He played again in less than 48 hours in Dallas, albeit with a shield on his helmet.
Report Card
B
He did his job to my satisfaction, even if he never quite earned the coaches’ trust.