Piece on JVR

[Rusty Pickles]

Saturday, March 15

1:30 p.m.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and Chris Pryor, the team’s director of hockey operations, drove about an hour from Boston last night to see 2007 first round draft choice James van Riemsdyk play for the University of New Hampshire. Van Riemsdyk registered an assist in a 4-1 victory for his team over the University of Massachusetts in a best-of-three quarterfinal playoff series.

UNH is the top seed in the 24th Annual Hockey East Championship Tournament by virtue of a 19-5-3 league record in the regular season, and improved to 24-8-3 overall.

On the Fly caught up with Pryor, who has seen van Riemsdyk play about a half dozen times, prior to the Flyers-Bruins game on Saturday afternoon.
James van Riemsdyk was drafted by the Flyers second overall at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

“What you can see from him is that when he has the puck, he’s a talented guy,” said Pryor. “He can see the ice extremely well, he’s a big man, he protects the puck well and he can make plays.

“He has to continually develop his game. When he doesn’t have the puck, he’s got to learn that part of the game, as a lot of kids do. That will come. What he does do with the puck, you can’t teach. Physically, he’s still a kid right now and he’s going to get bigger and stronger.”

In 28 games this season, van Riemsdyk has averaged just under a point per game with 11 goals and 16 assists.

“I think it’s a year in progress,” continued Pryor. “Early in the year he was playing wing, at the World Juniors he was playing wing, and now he’s playing center which is a big transition for the kid.

“He’s still in the learning process, which is going to take awhile. Patience is still the key here, but he’s got a lot to work with to develop.”

Pryor also thinks that being on a top college team like UNH will only benefit van Riemsdyk.

“He’s on a solid team, and they play him and they like him. He gets a lot of ice time, and he’s in a good environment for his development. It’s a good situation for him.”

[img size=150]http://cdn.nhl.com/flyers/images/upload/2007/11/jvr_unh.jpg[/img]

[adamhdwilson]

first i heard of jvr playin centre, is phily trying to turn him into a centre man

[fzusher]

Looks like Philly will give him at least one more year in college. Love to be right

[gagnerific]

Awesome peice on JVR! i\'ve been looking for a meaty update on him...
but helllllll no dont move him to center!!! keep him LW!!

[gagnerific]

maybe they\'re moving him center to work on his defensive responsibilities?

[Rusty Pickles]

It could also be for the benefit of the collegiate team. Being among their best players I am sure they want him with the puck as much as possible. He\'s a big kid so I am sure he is pretty good at fow/leverage. As a team perhaps they\'re stronger along the wing than middle perhaps so it just makes them better overall. From their record I\'d say he can\'t be playing with a bunch of donuts, they do boast 6 other players already drafted by the NHL (G - Regan, Kevin (BOS), Foster, Brian (FLA) FWDS - DeSimone, Phil (WASH), LeBlanc, Peter (CHI) Def - Charlebois, Joe (CHI), Switzer, Craig (NASH)).

Undrafted Senior Forward Mike Radja was the player of the month in February and Undrafted Junior Forward Jerry Pollastrone was the player of the week last week.


JvR reminds me a lot of Nash. Half Dangler Half Power Forward.

From what I have read he is already a pk guy and a two way player.

Some highlights:

http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/video/080126.php
http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/video/080222.php
http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/video/080111.php
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qSsNtjiIIjs

[gagnerific]

wow pickles i love you man +1 to you this is sweet!!!! ive been looking for some stuff on him!

[Crazynuck]

Mr.Flyers himself Rusty comes through again. Great job now I need to make a move to get this kid on my farm

[Rusty Pickles]

Hopefully more highlights after tomorrow\'s game at 5 pm B)


You can say I have followed UNH hockey closer this year than any in the past (they actually boast a pretty decent list of nhl alumni). He is someone I am watching very closely (obviously).

[Rusty Pickles]

http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/video/080321bc.php

Here are the highlights of Friday\'s playoff game, and I must say, looked like one HELL of a game. UNH lost to BC in triple ot 5-4; in what was the longest game in the 24 year history of hockey east. UNH is not done for the year, they await their seeding for the NCAA tourney coming out Sunday. Mr. JvR had two helpers on the evening.

RP

[Sin Bin]

Thanks for the info Rusty.