One year ago at this time, the Flyers planned for top prospect Claude Giroux to be a member of the club's opening night roster. The lineup spot was Giroux's to lose. Unfortunately, the rookie proceeded to do just that by playing a listless preseason that head coach John Stevens charitably described as "just OK."
We all know what happened after that. Giroux was sent down to the Phantoms to start the season. To his credit, he took the demotion in stride and went on to have an outstanding rookie season both in the AHL and NHL. When Giroux was recalled to the Flyers for good, he was ready for the challenge.
Giroux's rookie season was a learning experience not only for himself but also for the Flyers. Entering training camp, the team downplayed expectations for James van Riemsdyk. For all of his boundless potential, there were areas of JVR's game that needed work before he could be deemed NHL ready. He struggled during his cup of coffee with the Phantoms at the end of last season. The team made clear that while van Riemsdyk would be given a shot at an NHL roster spot in training camp, he'd have to win a job with his play. Nothing would be handed to him because he was the second pick of the 2007 draft.
So far at least, van Riemsdyk has made the most of the opportunity. Everyone at the SkateZone -- including Washington Capitals' staff -- raved about his four goal, one assist performance at the annual Prospects Game. Even more important, he has not looked out of place skating on a line with Giroux and Daniel Briere in practice. or in his shifts on Jeff Carter's line in last night's preseason opening 3-1 loss to the Red Wings. Last night, JVR scored the lone Flyers goal and otherwise gave a solid account of himself.
While there's still a long way to go before he's declared a member of the NHL team, you can sense excitement building not just among the fans, but also his teammates and coaches. You just don't see many players with the combination of size, hands, strength and skill that van Riemsdyk possesses. He's also a fine skater for his size. While he's not going to crush people with monster hits and he's unlikely to drop the gloves, he's been involved physically. In other words, so far the rookie has made all the right moves.
Stevens insists that van Riemsdyk is just one of several left wingers whom he will try with the tandem of Giroux and Briere. That may yet be the case, but so far, Briere and Giroux have worked almost exclusively at practice with van Riemsdyk. It should also be said that Giroux and Briere will likely need to play with someone who possesses both the size and strength to create some operating room for them and the skill to finish off the scoring chances they create. Looking around the preseason roster, there really isn't another clear-cut candidate with the physical attributes to be a proper fit on that line. Scott Hartnell could do it, but he's already part of a tandem with Jeff Carter. So if it's not going to be JVR, there's going to be a rotating cast.
Another point: While AHL seasoning certainly can't hurt a player and can potentially help, history has shown that players who go on to become top NHL forwards rarely suffer in the long term if they bypass the American League in their first pro season. The AHL is certainly a viable option if a player isn't quite ready -- Giroux's play last season is a testament to that -- but an apprenticeship at the top level also works for many players who go on to become stars.
Two weeks ago, I would have told you that I thought van Riemsdyk was one of those players who needed at least one half to one full AHL season as an intermediate step to his NHL career. Now I'm not so sure if the team will need to take that approach. James van Riemsdyk's play over the rest of the preseason will dictate the club's direction.
If he keeps playing the way he has, I see no reason for being overly cautious. Even if he makes the big club, he won't have to shoulder a huge offensive burden this year. He'd be expected to play a role on his line and progress over the course of the campaign. JVR already has many of the qualities you can't teach a player. The rest comes with experience and confidence. It will be fascinating to watch whether he's better served gaining that early experience at the AHL level or in the big show.
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The Flyers will bring the following players t tonight's tilt in London Ont. against the Maple Leafs:
Forwards: Giroux, van Riemsdyk, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Arron Asham, Dan Carcillo, Matt Clackson, Jon Kalinski, Darroll Powe, Riley Cote, Blair Betts, Mika Pyorala, Jared Ross
Defensemen: Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, Ryan Parent, Danny Syvret, Joonas Lehtivuori, Oskars Bartulis, Logan Stephenson
Goalies: Johan Backlund, Brian Boucher
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If you click on Amazon, please click the link requesting a Kindle version of the book as well. If there's enough interest, we might be able to make the original manuscript -- containing about 150 additional pages of stories about Pelle that are not in the print version-- available for online reading.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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