Former second overall selection, James van
Riemsdyk, made a serious case for his spot
on the Flyers' opening day roster in a scrimmage
against the Capitals' rookies on Friday.
James van Riemsdyk must have felt some kind of pressure on that June day when the Philadelphia Flyers selected him 2nd overall behind Patrick Kane in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. While Kane was establishing himself as an NHL offensive heavyweight, van Riemsdyk spent a couple of years with the University of New Hampshire learning how to handle pressure. In New Hampshire he was the undisputed go-to player on the ice. Eventually his goal is to be that guy for the Flyers, but, amid a swirl of rumors about his status with the organization, the young power-forward has gone about his business.
The pressure has to still be there to some extent. Van Riemsdyk was criticized for going to college and then criticized once again when he chose to return for a second year. He was mentioned in various trade rumors even after General Manager Paul Holmgren denied that the team would consider moving him. The media took comments out of context and claimed that the organization had soured of their golden child. Meanwhile "Reemer", as fans have begun to call him, was getting reamed by those same fans for appearing lazy on the ice. His second trip to the World Junior Championships he scored only ten points instead of eleven, though he played well enough over his two appearances to enter into the discussion of the best ever American performances at the Championships. He did not seem to improve much production-wise during his sophomore year in college. When he did finally join to Phantoms in the AHL he got off to a slow start, scoring only a goal and an assist in eleven total games. The world that once embraced van Riemsdyk as a savior and reward for the worst season in franchise history now had its doubts that he could ever be a franchise skater for the orange and black.
How does anyone react to thousands of fans making their doubts so public?
All of that extra pressure on van Riemsdyk during his sophomore year at New Hampshire must be paying off. During every interview since he has signed with the Flyers he has made one thing very clear; he wants to be decked out in an orange and black sweater the day the Flyers roll into Carolina on October 2nd through the day the Rangers travel down 95 to the Wachovia Center on April 11th. He wants to compete and he has made every effort to be ready despite those doubting him from their armchairs.
On Friday at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ his point hit home. There in the number 21 orange jersey van Riemsdyk skated out to a packed crowd. There were rumors that another prospect, Patrick Maroon, could end up being called up to the Flyers' roster before him. While Maroon was sidelined due to a minor injury, van Riemsdyk must have felt hundreds of eyes staring at him. How could the pressure not get to a player?
The best players always perform despite the pressure, and on that rainy Friday afternoon van Riemsdyk happened to be the best player on the ice. The Washington Capitals' rookie team had no answer for the highly-touted prospect. Though the organization has some quality prospects of their own, van Riemsdyk was man amongst boys; perhaps an NHL player amongst AHL prospects. Even players such as Andreas Nodl and Jonathan Kalinski, who both saw time with the Flyers during the 2008-09 season, seemed invisible by comparison.
It's not that van Riemsdyk did anything flashy either, despite his beautiful break-away shorthanded goal to add insult to injury late in the game. He was not flashy or overly physical. While many of his teammates pounded on the Capitals' skaters, van Riemsdyk used his long, powerful strides, his surprising speed, his incredible hockey sense, and his mesmerizing stick-work to take care of business. By the end of the game the Flyers left the ice after a seven to three victory with van Riemsdyk responsible for four of the tallies himself along with a beautiful assist on a late first period goal by Rob Bellamy.
Among the other players taking the ice in the orange third jerseys of the Flyers rookie defenseman Kevin Marshall and camp invitee Tomas Sinisalo also impressed spectators. While many were also in attendance to see the new Flyers' feel-good story, Patrick Maroon, in competitive action, they will have to wait until the preseason games. Jonathan Kalinksi looked solid at center and will go into camp competing against players like prospect Jared Ross and camp invitee Blair Betts for a roster spot in the middle on the fourth line. Andreas Nodl, who many hoped would rebound after being sent back to the Phantoms upon Claude Giroux's emergence with the Flyers, did not do anything to get noticed. He had some solid board-work but still has not found his scoring touch since leaving college to turn pro last summer. While many also hoped to see the best of last year's QMJHL defenseman of the year, Marc-Andre Bourdon, the blueliner looked nervous at times and will likely need some AHL time to get his confidence up.
The rookies, fresh out of camp, do not get a day off. Though the Skate Zone is closed off to spectators, the entire training camp roster will assemble for conditioning and testing on Saturday. On Sunday the real camp begins. With preseason games just around the corner it will be up to van Riemsdyk and every other Flyers hopeful, prospect or veteran, to impress the coaching staff enough to earn their own jersey for opening night on October 2nd in Carolina.
Comments