Flyers sign James van Riemsdyk, but is it enough in the free agency?

Ron Hextall was invaded by a group of journalists Friday at Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ, and had to clarify a statement that he had previously made that the Flyers "are certainly not going to tender a case of seven years old "

" I mis expressed myself that day or you misunderstood me, "said Hextall with a smile Friday." I said we would not go go long-term with a good player . Maybe a great player, we would watch. "

We did not know, Hextall was big game hunting and his trophy was a player we all know.

The Sunday Flyers corrected a bad past and caused a jolt both now and future by signing James van Riemsdyk on a five-year contract, $ 35 million without a non-trade clause

We can congratulate Hextall for making a splash with van Riemsdyk Some people doubted that he In him, he was too conservative in his building.He sent a loud and clear message if

van Riemsdyk returns to the Flyers for a second stint and this time he gets better.

Enough with Hextall's cheers Destroy what JVR brings and where it goes …

What JVR brings

Originally drafted by the Flyers with the # 2 pick in 2007, van Riemsdyk returns to Philly a polite player that it was not when they were traded to Toronto on June 23, 2012.

van Riemsdyk brings size (6-3, 217), shot and consistent goals, all three areas in which the Flyers will definitely benefit in the immediate and a few seasons later

JVR, in six seasons with the Maple Leafs, has blossomed into the scorer with 30 goals and many wanted him to be in Philadelphia. Last season, van Riemsdyk scored 36 goals and 54 points.

In four of the past five seasons, Van Riemsdyk has scored at least 27 goals and 54 points. The 29-year-old scored an average of 31 goals in an 82-game schedule during his stint in Toronto. He was limited to 29 points in 40 games in 2015-16 due to an injury.

From a situation, Van Riemsdyk has a fairly balanced split between strength and goals on the power play. Last season, he finished second in Toronto tied for goals (25) and PP markers (11). With the Leafs, he averaged 15 goals and seven PPGs. Consistency is there from the point of view of production

Van Riemsdyk brings another aspect – and perhaps the biggest – a volume shooter that the Flyers desperately need.

Van Riemsdyk finished the 2017-18 season with 248 shots, was ranked 23rd in the NHL and averaged 213 shots on goal in his six years in Toronto, but looking more near, he tells better.

Looking at Van Riemsdyk's pricing statistics, one sees that he often pulls the puck. Last season, he had 10.1 shots per 60 minutes to 5 against 5. In fact, he has always excelled in this category. Throughout his career, Van Riemsdyk averaged 9.63 shots per 60 minutes to 5 against 5.

Maybe Van Riemsdyk would have grown into this player if the Flyers had never been sour after three seasons. The decline is 20/20 and we know that the Flyers have lost this trade, badly. With hindsight, the Flyers have sometimes abused Van Riemsdyk and abandoned him too quickly. It was a common theme in the previous business model – not knowing what they had.

"For me, I had a great opportunity to expand my role in Toronto," van Riemsdyk said. "It was just a different situation with the team when I got in. Playing a bigger role in a power play, play more minutes."

How it s going? integrates

Signing van Riemsdyk adds a real intrigue to the group of Flyers forwards while they now have a legitimate NHL playoff length with seven of the top six in the standings.

van Riemsdyk joins Sean Couturier, Claude Giroux, Nolan Patrick, Travis Konecny, Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds, and Oskar Lindblom is also on the third line, Hextall said on Sunday that the Flyers will their third-row center post from inside and will open the door to Giroux for potentially returning to the center or for a prospect of graduating in the NHL.

Yet, JVR gives depth to the Flyers. 39, head coach Dave Hakstol, the only n drivers, Riamsdyk, Simmonds, Voracek or Konecny, will be on the third line. Where the adjustment will be interesting will be on the power play. van Riemsdyk played a similar role with the Leafs that Simmonds plays for the Flyers. But the second PP unit of the Flyers fell.

Now, the Flyers can spread the love and see how chemistry shakes.

"We can release two very good units," said Hextall. "That gives us another left shot, which we needed.We have [Patrick] we have Konecny.We have both young defenders." […] We are pretty confident that our power play has taken a step here. "

Some may argue that Van Riemsdyk has dismissed Simmonds from an important role with the Flyers, but that is misguided.In the game today, you need The Flyers finally have it.

We can disagree on the term or the price.But JVR meets an immediate need

The Flyers were largely calm under the Hextall administration

That changed Sunday and changed significantly Is it still October?

More about the Flyers

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• JVR moves a false right past, boosts the present, illuminates the future

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