NHL teams like to save money wherever they can. Here are five players who are way above their pay grades right now.
With a majority of teams already getting into action, let’s take a look at some players who find themselves in more opportune positions than they likely expected.
The nature of free agency makes it very difficult for teams to make smart moves.
We have our best value deal of the day already. The Boston Bruins have signed forward James van Riemsdyk to a one-year, $1 million contract. JVR is coming off of a difficult season with the Flyers, scoring 12 goals and 29 points.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are settling into their first offseason with new GM Brad Treliving – and they’ve got some notably intriguing decisions to make.
Hayes believes the organization turned the page on him midseason, while JVR was hoping to get moved at the trade deadline.
Philadelphia has all three of its salary retention slots remaining so it seems quite likely that it’ll retain up to the maximum of 50% ($3.5M) to help facilitate a move and help secure a better return.
There are only so many big catches in the NHL’s trading waters. Not every team hooks a marlin. Some will have to settle for smaller meals. And that’s where
Ideally on a championship team, JVR would slot onto the third line with other players who can help hound pucks, then slide onto a second power-play unit to give that area of a team’s game a little net-front boost as well.
While it may be too late for the Flyers to make any sort of run toward the playoffs, getting their veteran forward back into the lineup is important for another reason.
Couturier and van Riemsdyk are set to miss time after undergoing surgery to fix respective injuries.
According to Jordan Hall of NBC Sports, James van Riemsdyk will miss some time with a broken finger. He will require surgery on the finger and it is uncertain when he will return to regular NHL action.
Looking to finish the regular season strong with six plays.
If this offseason served as any indication, Chuck Fletcher isn’t afraid to trade aggressively to clear cap space. Trading for players like Cam Atkinson and Ryan Ellis reinforces a method to the offseason madness.
Jakub Voracek scores the game-winner after James van Riemsdyk uses his face, then stick, to deflect a pair of goals. If you put two ugly losses aside for the Philadelphia Flyers, their season series against the New York Rangers is competitive.
It’s no secret that the retirement of Matt Niskanen leaves the Flyers with a significant hole in their defense; However, a new name swirling through the trade rumors could be the first move of many for Philadelphia.
Losing van Riemsdyk at this point in the season is brutal news for the Flyers, who are on a seven-game winning streak and have pulled within a single point of the Metropolitan division lead.
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