Columbus Blue Jackets 2024 season preview, James van Riemsdyk adds depth and experience up front

As training camp gets under way, the Blue Jackets roster is mostly set; aside from a few jobs that are up for grabs. One of those holes was likely filled last weekend, when GM Don Waddell brought in net-front warrior James van Riemsdyk, who will be expected to add depth and experience to the forward group.

The 35 year old is a veteran of 1,011 career NHL games, with 311 goals and 629 points under his belt. When I say veteran, I mean it in every sense of the word. He was originally the second overall pick at the 2007 draft, held in Columbus. The same draft that saw the Blue Jackets select Jakub Voracek 7th overall - seemingly a lifetime ago.

In 15 NHL seasons, van Riemsdyk has made a name for himself by being strong and reliable in front of the net. Particularly on the power-play, he's one of the best at screening the goaltender, deflecting pucks, or digging loose rebounds free. He has the requisite size (6'3", 208 pounds) to do the job, and soft enough hands that he can score in tight.

With all of that said, I'm kidding if I tell you we should expect much more out of him. Those 15 seasons of net-front battles have probably left quite a toll on his body, and at 35 years old he has certainly lost a step. Which isn't great for a guy who wasn't the most fleet afoot at any point in his career. The silver lining here is, since his game was never built around speed, he's still a pretty good add from a net-front and goal scoring perspective.

For the Blue Jackets, they don't need him to be a burner on the ice. They have plenty of speed in their mix of skill and depth players down the wings. Really, this team just needed to add another experienced forward to the group - especially after the tragic loss of star forward Johnny Gaudreau.

James won't replace Johnny's production. He won't even come close. But, he should be able to help this team come together from a leadership standpoint, and on the power-play. At even strength, I wouldn't be surprised to see him play bottom line minutes. His value is going to come from setting an example on and off the ice.

One bold prediction: James van Riemsdyk will score 10 or more power-play goals for the Blue Jackets this season.

This team needs to see their power-play improve this year, and van Riemsdyk is exactly the kind of player who can help. I expect him to be a mainstay on one of the two units, camping out directly in front of the opposing goaltender and playing the role of wily veteran, with some of the younger "kids" playing around him.

If he can produce at that kind of rate, he may also net the Blue Jackets a nice return at the trade deadline. On a one-year deal worth just $900k, that would be a very decent outcome for a guy they got on the open market.