The biggest name left on trade deadline day might have been James van Riemsdyk, and there was a race between several teams for his services. That race appeared to be over as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported that the Detroit Red Wings would land the Philadelphia Flyers forward, pending a physical and trade call.
Darren Dreger of TSN noted that the trade required the Red Wings to move another player first, and now the agreement has seemingly collapsed. Friedman tweets that “something happened,” and the deal has been pulled back. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reports that no van Riemsdyk trade is coming today.
It is a pretty significant opportunity missed for the Flyers, who will now hold onto the veteran forward through the end of the season. In the final season of a five-year, $35MM contract, the 33-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. While some of the other teams involved in trade discussions might not have been offering what the Flyers wanted, they’re now stuck with nothing to show for van Riemsdyk’s expiring contract.
For a club struggling to stay competitive, missing out on even a late-round pick at this point in the year will sting. The outcome, though, might have more to do with van Riemsdyk’s declining effectiveness more than anything. The big winger has just nine goals and 23 points on the season, the worst per-game scoring rate of his career. After more than a decade of being one of the league’s premiere net-front players, perhaps his time in the league is dwindling.
But why?
Ya after Hronek and Burt trades it’s odd to then go get a guy
This trade week has been amazing. So many questions
Are Detroit and Vancouver buyers or sellers? I think they are BOTH!
I agree. He has 1 year left on his Contract. I hope he is NOT signed after 2023-2024 season
Thanks Detroit, appreciate being left at the altar.
It should’ve never even come to this. They had WEEKS to trade this guy and waited until the last damn minute to do something. It’s pathetic and fitting for a franchise going absolutely no where
@ andymeyer: I think this is the Klingberg/Chychrun scenario at work. Teams just get the notion — heck, their fans have it too — that they can get the sun, moon and stars for the guys they don’t want any more. This year in particular the syndrome is especially moronic: the exigencies of the cap, and how very many teams insist on spending right up to it, means that few teams could fit in a JVK- or Klingberg-level salary, retention or no, no matter how much they’d want to.
Honestly, it’s a miracle that so many high powered deals came through this trade season as it is.
I understand what you’re saying but my point is they had weeks to trade him and get something. Could’ve worked in a third team to match salaries; retention, etc.
Klingberg and Chychrun were dealt and teams made it work.
it’s a colossal failure from an inept general manager.
The ask was a 3rd round selection. Certainly not the sun, moon and stars by any stretch
Isn’t it amazing that some GMs think they can take a player to the wire to get a bidding war in the hard cap world of the NHL? I feel sorry for @Gavin & crew for having to report on so much movement of mostly lint.
Flyers are a total sh*t show. They had one simple job to do. After 55 years as a fan why should I care anymore.
No one knows the true story except the GM’s. Philly didn’t have to wait until the last minutes of the last day. This is a GM issue for not moving him earlier. Yzerman didn’t screw him at the last minute.