1,000 Game NHL Veteran James Van Riemsdyk Without An NHL Contract

Thursday, September 03, 2026 , , , ,
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It is time for the NHL to begin firing up training camps across the league, and for some NHL veterans, they won't be joining. One of those veterans who played in 2025-26 but doesn't have a contract to start the season is veteran James Van Riemsdyk. 

JVR played for the Detroit Red Wings last season on a one-year contract, paying him $1 M over one year. 

He arguably played better than what his contract paid him, being utilized up and down the lineup and adding needed secondary scoring on the power play for the Red Wings. 

In 72 games, JVR scored 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) in a bottom-six role. 

Seven of his goals scored in 2025-26 came on the power play, while scoring four assists on the power play. He was a special teams juggernaut for an original six team that saw Patrick Kane injured at different points in the season. 

Since former general manager Steve Yzerman was demoted and Dylan Larkin requested a trade out of Detroit, the organization seems like it has stagnated, and even if the team was able to offer him a contract, when would they?

The 38-year-old forward has never won a championship during his time in the league, but has become a journeyman, playing for the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Columbus Blue Jackets. 

He's played 1,154 games in the NHL and scored 696 points (342 goals and 354 assists). If a team would sign him to play in a forechecking role, with limited offensive responsibilities, there's leadership potential and a veteran who has played 82 playoff games, scoring 36 points (21 goals, 15 assists). 


The only question left in the era of the increasing salary cap, is why does JVR not have a contract, especially if he played for $1 M last season?

Will he have to consider a PTO, or head overseas? 

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