Bruins forward has interest from ‘multiple teams’ with his intentions yet to revealed but Oilers made offer
James van Riemsdyk remains a free agent as the 2024-25 NHL season approaches, but it doesn’t appear he’ll be on the market long.
The Athletic’s Chris Johntston reported on Wednesday that van Riemsdyk has interest from “multiple teams.”
“He’s one of the few remaining LW options available and is viewed as a high-character veteran that is expected to land a PTO before training camps open next week,” Johnston posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.
Van Riemsdyk spent last season with the Boston Bruins and potted 11 goals to go along with 27 assists in 71 games. The veteran was honored for playing in 1,000 NHL games in March — a milestone 391 other players reached including Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci and Zdeno Chara.
The 35-year-old made his NHL debut during the 2009-10 season with the Philadelphia Flyers. He spent eight years over two stints with them where he played in 527 games and scored 146 goals.
It’s unclear what teams are interested in the forward, but van Riemsdyk showed last season how quickly he can mesh with a new team when he found chemistry early on with Trent Frederic and Charlie Coyle as his linemates. Even when Bruins coach Jim Montgomery shuffled the lines, van Riemsdyk put on full display that it didn’t matter who he was next to, he was going to find a way to make an impact on the ice.
“We’ve moved him around a bunch, and whatever’s best for the team, he just really fits with the Bruins culture of whatever’s best for the spoked-B is what he’s gonna do and whatever we ask of him,” Montgomery said after Boston’s 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in January.
The Boston Bruins began rookie camp on Wednesday at Warrior Arena, and the list of players participating did not include some of the top prospects in the organization. The top two young stars on the Bruins Benders Podcast Top 30 were not present. Forwards Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell will both be fighting for a spot on the Bruins roster this season but will not be on the Bruins rookie roster for the upcoming Prospect Challenge in Buffalo.
Recent draft picks Dean Letourneau, Jonathan Morello, and Elliott Groenewold are also not at camp. Letourneau, who was the Bruins’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, will begin his freshman season at Boston College. Morello, who has committed to Boston University for the 2025-26 season, will play in the USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Groenewold participated in development camp in July but will join the Quinnipiac University hockey club this season. Sixth-round selection Loke Johansson will participate before the big defenseman plays for the Moncton Wildcats in the OHL this season.
