How Are Former Philadelphia Flyers Performing?

Ivan Provorov

Ivan Provorov was traded near the start of this offseason. It was hoped that he could help solidify the Columbus Blue Jackets’ defense and be a nice compliment to the higher powered offensive players the team has, like Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine.

That has not happened. Injuries have taken a toll on this team. Likewise, Provorov has been up and down on a team that has been mostly down. He is tied for the team lead with nine points, all assists. He has a -7 rating; the worst of all Columbus defenders and just two behind the team leader, center Alexandre Texier. He is only 40 seconds behind team leader Zach Werenski in time on ice with 23:04.

In his first game of the season, he had to match up against his old Philly teammates. He was on the ice for two of the goals that the Flyers scored. He’s played as you would expect him to play. He’s not good, but not awful. If Columbus was a better team, it might be easier to evaluate him and his abilities. As it is, Columbus is a struggling team and Provorov is struggling with them, despite being one of the few offensive weapons this team has.

James van Riemsdyk

After putting together a subpar comeback in Philadelphia, the former second overall pick (2007) has caught on with his new team, the Boston Bruins. James van Riemsdyk signed a one-year deal with the Bruins for $1 million. So far, that investment is paying off and he is connecting well with his new teammates.

He’s found his scoring touch again in Boston. To be fair, he’s on a team that is loaded with talent. In his second game, he scored two goals against the Nashville Predators. His 11 points are fourth on the team behind David Pastrňák, Brad Marchand, and Charlie Coyle. His four goals are tied for fourth.

Boston, right now, is picking up from where they left off last year. They are 11-1-2 and are plowing through the NHL again. Maybe this year they’ll escape the first round of the playoffs. If van Riemsdyk can continue on the pace he is on, he could earn himself a contract extension. He may have found his home in Beantown.