At 35, he's likely looking to bring experience and scoring depth to the team, especially given his track record with 311 goals and 318 assists over his 1,011 NHL regular-season games.
Although his production dipped to 11 goals last season with the Boston Bruins, he showed he could still contribute offensively with 24 goals two seasons ago with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Signing for $900,000 is a low-risk move for the Blue Jackets, providing them with a seasoned player who can contribute to their middle-six forward lines or on the power play. It also reflects van Riemsdyk's willingness to continue his career and potentially take on a mentorship role within a younger Columbus lineup.