What does everyone think about a potential PTO for JVR? van Riemsdyk grew up in Middletown, NJ so there should be some geographic appeal to him late in his career. JVR would be better suited in a bottom 6 role at this point in his career, but still has the ability to hop up in the lineup when needed like he did last year in BOS. He posted 38 points last year in BOS while averaging 13 minutes a night. I assume Noesen will be the net front presence on PP2 this year, but if needed, van Riemsdyk can also fill that role. This late in the summer, I’d be shocked if JVR got anything more than he did last year which was a 1x1m. If JVR or another PTO were to make the team, I think you could see Bastian put on waivers. Nolan Foote is no longer waiver exempt and it wouldn’t make sense to lose a younger player for Bastian who is coming off a less than stellar season and will probably be gone at year end regardless
by Devsfan25
10 Comments
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As a follow up, this would be my lineup with JVR inserted. MacDermid, Foote and Kovacevic as the extras
Pass
Fourth line? Sure
Really wanted him when he was a UFA in 2018 but he chose the Flyers over us. Now that he’s totally washed I have no interest. I’d pass.
You’ll see a cpl PTO players at camp, probably a few more than most expect due to the Europe trip.
I think we want forwards who play defense. We let Luke Hughes, Nemec, Dougie compensate for any lack of scoring punch down the lineup. JVR is just a little too slow and old for me and what I envision. As a scratch type of player it’s fine, maybe he’ll crank a couple on the PP a little…I just feel like a player like him will start to fade as a depth player. For what it’s worth he was pretty decent on the Bruins and wasn’t bad defensively.
Trade for Brad Lambert
I wouldn’t hate it. Good net front presence that we don’t really have. Could help us out in the playoffs scoring some of those gritty goals around the net. Potted 5 for Boston this playoffs in 11 games. Not bad for a guy playing 4th line minutes.
I like that we have different tools in the depth box with Kovacevic & McDermid on the physical side and Desimone & Hattaka as skating puck movers. That said you can NEVER have enough playoff experienced depth on defense and I hope we don’t have to ever see 2 of those 4 depth guys in the lineup at the same time for longer than a couple of games.
I’m not sure about JVR but I do think we could use someone who plays a good responsible defense game and can win faceoffs. Preferably right handed. We’re gonna be looking for Lazar or Cotter to step into that 4th line C role but it would be a huge plus those two develop chemistry & become a line pairing so they can switch up L/R depending the sitch & positioning.