The NHL Draft Keg Party: James Van Riemsdyk

Here at BMR we try to provide you, the reader, with as educational and entertaining a look at the NHL as possible. In preparation for the NHL Draft, today we continue with a feature entitled ‘The NHL Draft Keg Party’. The goal of this feature is to provide you with information about the prospects that you haven’t heard already. Hopefully, this will be a fun and entertaining endeavor. (Disclaimer)

Prospect Profile: James Van Riemsdyk

Birthdate: May 4, 1989

Position: Left Wing

Height/Weight: 6’3″ / 200lb

Shoots: Left

Current Team: US National Team Developmental Program

ISS Ranking: #2 overall

CSB Ranking: #3 North America

[NHL Connect Profile] [Hockey’s Future Profile]

Nickname: Reemer

Favorite TV Show: The OC

Favorite Movie: Happy Gilmore

Favorite Music: John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Bruce Spingsteen, OAR

Quote: “Success is never final, and failure is never fatal.” – Nick Saban

Post Draft Plans: University of New Hampshire

Favorite NHL Memory: Game seven of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals (Rangers defeat the Canucks)

BMR Scouting Report

From all accounts Van Riemsdyk sounds like a great kid. I’ve got a beef, though. Some of his favorite TV shows and musicians include John Mayer, Jack Johnson and the OC. That’s a minus in my book. That makes two prospects in a row that enjoy some Mayer and Johnson. I sincerely hope hockey players aren’t starting to go soft. Maybe this is why fighting is down? I think there’s a good chance that we can blame the OC for a lot of things happening in the NHL. It’s possible that the Sens came out flat in the Finals because they were staying up too late watching OC reruns, a show that they didn’t start watching until they started hanging out with Buffalo in the Conference Finals! Ah ha! That must be it!… Since I live a stone’s throw from where the Islanders paraded four Stanley Cups, it’s tough for me to swallow that Van Riemsdyk is a Ranger fan. That being said, the guy can play some serious hockey, and he can have a spot on the Island any day. You know, shit happens… One thing is certain; this kid is going to be good. You can tell me that the draft is a crap shoot. You can tell me Van Riemsdyk will be the next Alex Daigle. Don’t waste your breath. I won’t believe any of it for a second. Take a look at the picture accompanying this post and think about this; Did the Great One or Super Mario ever have a picture like that surface prior to their 18th birthday? I don’t think so (and if they did I want to see it!).

By the way, if Gary Bettman starts using the OC as an excuse for expansion, remember that you heard it here first.

UPDATE: As it turns out, Van Riemsdyk is down with Snoop Dizzle. That seals it, there is NO WAY Chicago can pass on this guy.

Sources: Facebook, NHL.com, TSN_uacct = “UA-1868762-1”; urchinTracker();