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Detroit Red Wings sign 17-year NHL veteran and ex-Bruin: Their best free agency pickup revealed
Photo credit: NHL.com
The Red Wings signed 17 year NHL veteran James van Riemsdyk, who has been announced as their best signing so far in free agency in the summer of 2025.
Not long after Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman traded Vladimir Tarasenko to the Minnesota Wild for future considerations, Detroit opened up several million dollars worth of cap space.
While they haven't made any mind-blowing signings yet, they did sign 17 year NHL veteran James van Riemsdyk, who played last year with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
He's also played for the divisional foe Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins in addition to 2 separate tenures with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Per NHL analyst Tristin McKinstry of Heavy.com, van Riemsdyk is the best addition that the Red WINgs have made so far in the summer.
Only five players on the Red Wings roster scored more than 15 goals in 2024-25. Some came close, but Detroit did not have the needed goals down the lineup to succeed. Had van Riemsdyk played in Detroit last season, his 16 goals would have ranked sixth on the team.
van Riemsdyk can still provide important secondary scoring. He has scored 10 or more goals in every season of his career. He has scored 15 or more goals in four of the last six seasons, as well. This includes a 24 goal campaign with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2021-22.
van Riemsdyk can still provide important secondary scoring. He has scored 10 or more goals in every season of his career. He has scored 15 or more goals in four of the last six seasons, as well. This includes a 24 goal campaign with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2021-22.
He had 36 points (16G, 20A) for the Blue Jackets last year, who barely missed out on making the postseason.
He's the most experienced player that the Red Wings have brought in so far in the summer and should be able to replace the offense lost by Tarasenko's trade to the Wild.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 19 | 88 ANSWERS Detroit Red Wings sign 17-year NHL veteran and ex-Bruin: Their best free agency pickup revealed Was James van Riemsdyk the right signing by the Red Wings? | ||
| Yes | 58 | 65.9 % |
| No | 30 | 34.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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