The Flyers did not have to wait until the AHL season got underway for James Van Riemsdyk to suddenly turn it on.
The former second-overall selection in the 2007 draft dominated in the third annual Flyers – Capitals rookie scrimmage, scoring four goals and assisting on one, as the Flyers walloped the Capitals, 7-3, Friday at the Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J.
Three of JVR’s four tallies came with him firmly placed in front of the net, with his fourth coming on a shorthanded breakaway. On the SHG, he faked a forehand shot and tucked the puck softly backhand through the five-hole. All throughout rookie camp Van Riemsdyk practiced on the defensive side of shorthanded drills. And with his size and speed, the Flyers are clearly trying to round out his two-way game, while trying to create an all-around weapon.
“The thing most pleasing to me was he wasn’t just hanging around the perimeter scoring goals or finesse goals. He really dug in fought for a loose puck that ended up a goal,” said Flyers’ coach John Stevens. “There was a loose puck behind him on another goal and the last goal, the breakaway was high-end. He showed the competitiveness we wanted to see.”
Other standouts were defenseman Kevin Marshall, who scored two assists and played a poised game. Goalie Adam Morrison who was peppered from the point, but kept making the saves through traffic. And Zac Rinaldo, who despite being labeled as an agitator, showed off his speed by earning a penalty shot and shorthanded breakaway. He was turned away on both.
Phila.Bright 
u still sayin jvr doesn’t make the team to start?
If he dominates training camp with the big boys, Holmgren will make room for him on the roster. But despite a great rookie camp, he’s destined to at least START the season in the AHL. Similar to what Claude Giroux did last season.
he was the other wing for giroux and briere! that would be a SICK line!
is it just me or are we DEEP? i mean seriously, when i look over the forwards in camp, we have 20 guys who could deserve to make this team. the 9 obvious ones are gagne, richards, carter, hartnell, briere, giroux, carcillo, asham and laperriere. the 11 not so obvious are (in no particular order) powe, ross, cote, van riemsdyk, betts, bell, maroon, matsumoto, kalinski, ward and dingle….not to mention the “newcomers” like kaspar, pyorala, and kolanos. the depth is amazing!
and our d has alot of youth! ALOT!
have i mentioned that i’m excited???
There is no doubt the team is deeper this year than it was last. But defense is definitely the Flyers’ strong suit as far as depth goes.
You aren’t the only one excited, a record number of fans came to watch the first camp.
what are the chances of randy jones getting put on waivers and sent to the phantoms (if not picked up) in order to create cap space?