Red Wings sign James van Riemsdyk to one-year contract

The Detroit Red Wings have signed unrestricted free agent left winger James van Riemsdyk to a one-year, $1-million bonus-laden contract, per hockey insider Frank Seravalli.

Through 71 appearances with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, the 36-year-old native of Middletown, N.J., collected 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points coupled with 23 penalty minutes and a minus-four rating while averaging more than 12 minutes of time on ice per game.

Originally chosen second overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2007 NHL Draft, van Riemsdyk has since totaled 1,082 career contests with the Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and Blue Jackets in which he has tallied 327 goals and 338 assists for 665 points. On two occasions with the Maple Leafs, van Riemsdyk eclipsed the 60-point plateau, including a career high of 62 points counting 29 goals and 33 assists coming during the 2016-17 campaign. The talented forward has also scored 20 or more goals seven times. Of note, van Riemsdyk has also added 21 goals and 15 assists for 36 points through 82 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In all, van Riemsdyk is the latest signing by the Red Wings and general manager Steve Yzerman who on Monday agreed to a one-year, $3-million extension with veteran right winger Patrick Kane. Through 72 appearances with the Red Wings last season, the 36-year-old Buffalo native put up 21 goals and 38 assists for 59 points to finish fourth in team scoring. Kane originally joined the Red Wings midway through the 2023-24 campaign.

The Red Wings closed out the 2024-25 season with a 39-35-8 record to fall five points short of the second wildcard position in the Eastern Conference. The Red Wings last qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2016, the NHL’s second-longest active postseason drought behind only the Atlantic Division rival Buffalo Sabres.