4 Bruins on Thin ice Heading Into the NHL Draft

2. James van Riemsdyk, LW/RW

The 2023-24 NHL season told the tale of two different versions of James van Riemsdyk.

Signed to a cheap one-year, $1 million deal last offseason, van Riemsdyk impressed Bruins supporters with 37 points in the first 51 games. His 0.72 point-per-game pace was quite a shock given that it was his best production since he averaged 0.77 PPG with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2020-21.

Unfortunately, that's about as good as it got for the veteran power forward. Van Riemsdyk was often a non-factor for the Bruins in the second half of the schedule, tallying just one assist in the final 20 regular-season games. While he managed to register a goal and four assists in 11 playoff contests, it may have been a case of 'too little, too late' at that point.

Like DeBrusk, van Riemsdyk is also a pending UFA this offseason and I wouldn't be surprised if the Bruins let him walk. Although he can likely be retained for cheap, his second-half drop-off was concerning and the last thing Boston needs is for a declining veteran to occupy a roster spot.

It's too bad that things didn't work out better, but that's the nature of the business.