The Philadelphia Flyers announced that forward James van Riemsdyk is sidelined for the foreseeable future with a broken right hand.
Flyers announce James van Riemsdyk has a broken hand
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 5, 2020
James van Riemsdyk Injured
Van Riemsdyk injured his hand while blocking a shot from Washington Capitals defenceman Jonas Siegenthaler. Van Riemsdyk immediately went to the locker room and did not return to the game.
So far this season, van Riemsdyk has scored 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points to go along with eight minutes in penalties.
Over his 11-year NHL career, van Riemsdyk has played for the Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs. He has 247 goals and 234 assists for 481 career points in 740 career games. He was originally drafted by the Flyers in the first round, second overall in the 2007 NHL draft.
What This Means for the Future
The injury to van Riemsdyk comes at a very inopportune time for the surging Flyers as Philadelphia currently sits in second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers are riding a seven-game win streak and 8-2-0 in their last ten games.
Losing van Riemsdyk long-term will be tough for the Flyers to overcome. His 19 goals are tied for fourth-most on the team and continues to play a key role in their offence. While he is often criticized by the fans for his lack of foot speed, that is not his game. He brings more of a physical presence to the game that the Flyers are going to miss their lineup.
This injury will test the depth of the Flyers as they continue their playoff push. Losing a key player shortly after the trade deadline is a worst-case scenario. The Flyers will have to rely on assets inside their organization to fill the void.
In the wake of the injury, the Flyers called up Joel Farabee from the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Farabee has seven goals and 13 assists in 49 games for the Flyers this season.
While the exact length of the injury has yet to be determined, there is a possibility he could return just in time for the playoffs to start.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
