3 free agents the Blackhawks can sign from the Bruins

James van Riemsdyk, F

If Danton Heinen isn’t available or unwilling to join a rebuilding team, there is another serviceable veteran forward Kyle Davidson can add from the perennial playoff contender. James van Riemsdyk would also factor into the middle-six for 2024-25 on a team like the Blackhawks while the youngsters get the lead roles. But that should suit him perfectly at this stage in a career that has seen him play exclusively in the Eastern Conference. 

The winger doesn’t possess any game-breaking qualities, but van Riemsdyk has enjoyed several solid campaigns that involved him finding twine, something that happened 30 or more times twice. Even if van Riemsdyk isn’t the player he was, he will still score 10-plus goals in a season, and he can still provide 20-plus assists, not to mention the veteran experience. 

No, he isn’t a physical player in his later years, and van Riemsdyk also doesn’t disrupt a ton of plays with his stick, nor does he block many shots. But he still owns close to a 50 in the Corsi - something he had in 2022-23 with the Philadelphia Flyers. 

He wouldn’t excite many fans in the Windy City, but van Riemsdyk remains a reliable veteran presence who can move up and down the lineup with ease. Don’t expect him to be the first player on Davidson’s shortlist, but he’s still worth scooping up as a consolation, if available.