NHL Draft: With James van Riemsdyk, Philadelphia Flyers Find First Round Pick Near Home

The Flyers did not have to travel far to find their first pick in the 2007 NHL draft. James van Riemsdyk, born in Middletown New Jersey, was the first pick by the Flyers, but second overall in the draft. Often compared to ex-Flyer John Leclair, James van Riemsdyk was a good fit for the gritty and physical Philadelphia team. At six foot three, two hundred pounds, James van Riemsdyk's physical presence is similar to that of John Leclair, but his skating and puck skills are closer to that of star Flyer Simon Gagne. On draft day, Paul Holmgren, Flyers General Manager had a difficult choice at hand. Picking number two in the draft is no easy task. Fortunately for Holmgren, the Chicago Blackhawks made his decision simple. When Chicago picked American born Patrick Kane first overall, Holmgren knew his next best bet would be hometown hero James van Riemsdyk. Holmgren sees the potential in a player who can combine speed, skill, and a physical presence. The closest comparable player playing in the league currently is Columbus Blue Jackets' forward Rick Nash. If James van Riemsdyk ends up being anywhere close to a player of the caliber of Nash, the Flyers will have made a fantastic choice.

Holmgren knows that James van Riemsdyk won't be able to make an immediate impact, but has confidence that he will continue his progress while attending the University of New Hampshire in the fall. New Jersey isn't exactly know for pumping out NHL prospects. In fact, Jim Dowd, a long time New Jersey Devil, is the only other player from Brick Township New Jersey who is somewhat of a household name. James van Riemsdyk's development came mainly from his involvement in the Under-18 program through USA Hockey. In fact, as stated before, both the first and second pick in this years draft were American born. This makes a large statement for the development of the USA Hockey program. Scouts from USA Hockey have been on top of James van Riemsdyk since he was fourteen years old. He played both for the USA Hockey under-18 program and his high school hockey team, Christian Brother Academy in 2005. James van Riemsdyk will not make an immediate impact for Flyers this year, but if he can develop into the players he is being compared to by scouts, the Flyers will have a great player in the years to come, and they will certainly need him. After the worst season in Flyers history, Holmgren is looking for his team to be able to turn this next season into a successful one. As always, the goal is to win the Stanley cup, but for Philly fans, all we want is the team to make the playoffs. Hopefully with the new draft picks and free agency coming up soon, the Flyers will be able to make a push towards that goal.