Posts for james

James van Riemsdyk’s Manhood Has Gone Missing in Toronto

Kyle Scott - March 27, 2013

image from mobilwi.typepad.com
Yeah, they just went right up there and will drop down again at random times. Not much I can do about it. We have to just keep working hard and speaking in clichés and maybe one day I'll be a consistent hockey player.

Well here’s something that shouldn’t surprise you. 

James van Riemsdyk, who at times with the Flyers suffered from testicular ascension, is in some hot water with Leafs coach Randy Carlyle, this despite JVR being among the league leaders in goals.

He hasn’t scored in seven games and was benched for the final eight minutes of a 3-2 loss to the Bruins on Monday. Carlyle wants JVR to locate his balls. And soon: [National Post]

“Keep his feet moving, get involved and get into that dirty area and win more one-on-one battles,” said the head coach. “Those are the issues. When you’re not having that offensive production and you’re not creating those chances, the easiest way is to get physical and get into the dirty area.

“He’s been a good player for us. He’s got 14 goals, so it’s not like we’re jumping on the guy. We’re just asking. There’s been a dry spell and people have to make adjustments. Obviously he’s had to play up against higher-level players now when you have that success. Power play is an area that is easily correctable.”

 

Annnnd it was only a matter of time. 

JVR is at his best when he uses his body to make his way to the front of the net and to muscle off defenders in the corner. When he’s not doing those things… he’s Chris Gratton with a mole. And not that Luke Schenn is very good, but these are the sorts of stories I don’t miss about JVR, for better or worse.

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JVR Shot Dead, Traded for Luke Schenn

Kyle Scott - June 23, 2012

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And yes, Luke Schenn does look like Liam Neeson

In case you’ve been under a rock for the last little while (like I was…), the Flyers have traded James van Riemsdyk to Toronto for Luke Schenn. 

Schenn is, obviously, the brother of Brayden. He is a 6-2, 220 lb defenseman, which is exactly what the Flyers need. But, despite JVR playing sans balls at times, the straight-up trade is a bit surprising. Schenn didn't have a great season either, and you can argue that JVR is the better player. Just a year ago (literally, one year ago today), he, along with Claude Giroux, was being cited as the main reason why the Flyers were comfortable parting ways with Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. Now, he too is gone.

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The positives are that Schenn’s cap hit ($3.6 million) is less than JVR’s ($4.25 million) and his contract has four years remaining, as opposed to JVR's six, which is a long time for a player that, thus far, has underperformed.

Wherever you stand on this trade (or the Richards one… or the Carter one), you had to admit that the trend of the Flyers locking up players to long-term deals (which, ostensibly, makes them harder to move) and then trading them soon after – less than a year for both Carter and JVR – is concerning. What exactly does it say about a team’s talent evaluation if they keep throwing millions at young players only to get rid of them before the ink on their contract has time to dry? Or, are the Flyers just really overreactive?

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Paul Holmgren Confirm That JVR Will Not Need Hip Surgery, Tells Third Lie in Saga

Kyle Scott - June 15, 2012

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Following a report from TSN’s Darren Dreger last night, Paul Holmgren officially announced today that James van Riemsdyk will not have hip surgery and will be ready for training camp so he can continue to be an underachieving NHL forward whose production was to be counted on when the Flyers traded away the two guys who won the Stanley Cup this week (‘tis true!):

After consultation with various doctors regarding James' hip injury, we have come to the conclusion that surgery is not necessary. We will treat James hip with alternative therapies and non-surgical procedures. It is expected that James will be 100% well before training camp begins. 

 

That’s nice, Paul – and we’ll assume these sorts of stories will soon be broken by the Flyers’ inside reporter - but we must note that your tune has changed, sir. 

As our friend Dustin Leed, of TheHockeyGuys.net, points out, here’s what Homer said on May 19, a statement that appears directly under the most recent update on the Flyers' website (!!!):

James van Riemsdyk – Will have surgery next week to repair a torn labrum in his right hip. Recovery time is 6 weeks.

 

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Earlier this week, Howard Eskin reported that the Flyers were angered at JVR for holding off on surgery, a claim Homer responded to by saying that JVR was waiting for a foot infection to heal before hopping under the knife.

Turns out, he doesn’t need surgery at all. Amazing.

A Loosely-Sourced Confirmation of Paul Holmgren’s Claim About James van Riemsdyk’s Infected Foot

Kyle Scott - June 11, 2012

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Homer's bike in the background?

Earlier today, Paul Holmgren denied a report saying James van Riemsdyk was delaying hip surgery to prevent the Flyers from trading him, telling CSN Philly the reason for the delay was an infection in JVR’s foot.

That’s a reasonable explanation. But Homer’s a known liar, so we always question the things he says. 

That’s where reader Inseo Choi comes in. 

Choi, continuing our trend of Asian readers taking pictures with local athletes, provides some evidence to back Homer’s claim. He sent us the above photo – taken on Sunday, he says – with the following context: 

I ran into JVR yesterday (Sunday) afternoon in the Rittenhouse area and I noticed that he was kinda limping. I saw that he was wearing sandals and there was some sort of cut or scabbing near his heel area… So some truth to the foot injury infection???

 

Ohhhh, intrigue!

I asked Inseo if he had a picture of JVR’s foot. He didn’t. But unless you’re Rex Ryan, why would you?

TSN’s Darren Dreger provides more information that the delay in JVR having surgery has nothing to do with him trying to avoid being traded.

Dreger tweeted:

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Screen Shot 2012-06-11 at 3.46.11 PM

Dreger's reasoning differs from Holmgren's, but both give actual reasons for JVR not having surgery.

Still, JVR’s agent, Alec Shall, told CSN Philly’s Sarah Baicker that a trade wouldn’t come as a surprise:

"I would not be surprised [if JVR were to be traded], but it's nothing the Flyers have told us to expect."  

 

Homer once told Jeff Carter that he wouldn’t be traded, and then traded him anyway. So the lack of a warning from Holmgren means nothing because, hell, even a “you’re safe” message is completely worthless, apparently.

Holmgren’s Got a Gun: Killing Season is Here and JVR is, Of Course, on the Trading Block

Kyle Scott - June 11, 2012

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"I'm going to fucking kill you one day, Junior"

The days are long and the weather is hot, and that can only mean one thing: The NHL summer rumor mill is here and we can’t wait to see what sort of reactive and organization-shifting moves the Flyers make this year! (!!!)

First up – and we’ll consider it a soft launch – JVR trade rumors… because, really, what would any Flyers rumor mill be without James van Riemsdyk discussion and Ed Snider’s blind intuition?

Not much, Bob. Not much.

Anyway, last night on Sports Final – which, surprisingly, isn’t yet hosted by Sheena Parveen in a strapless two-tone belted club dress – Howard Eskin reported that the Flyers are interested in JVR's fellow trade rumor veteran, Rick Nash:

 

 

Basically, JVR continues to hurt the Flyers even while he’s not lying in a hospital bed somewhere. Or something like that. And that's pissing the Flyers off.

It’s hard to imagine a professional athlete would delay surgery for the sole purpose of not getting traded. But who knows? The mere fact that this is being brought up and somewhat believable – the Flyers angered at one of their key players, who was a major reason why the team felt comfortable trading Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, for blocking a potential trade – is sad. 

We’ll buy Eskin’s report, but also take it with a grain of salt, if simply because a JVR for Rick Nash trade rumor is about as expected as it comes, especially when you consider the Flyers' rodent-like propensity to kill their young: Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Justin Williams, Patrick Sharp, Danius Zubrus, Johan Hedburg— all drafted by the Flyers, all traded. Incredibly, six of those seven are playing in the Stanley Cup Finals, and Sharp beat them in the 2010 Finals.

If history is any indication, maybe it's better that JVR could be holding up a trade.

UPDATE: Paul Holmgren, of course, denies this report, telling CSN's Sarah Baicker that an infection in JVR's foot is the reason for the delay. Somewhere, Ruben Amaro doesn't think this is a setback.

James Neal Suspended One Game, Arron Asham Suspended Four Games

Kyle Scott - April 17, 2012

image from mobilwi.typepad.com

The Shanahan hath ruled. 

James Neal will be suspended one game for his hits on Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux. Arron Asham, who attempted to decapitate Brayden Schenn, will receive four games. 

So, in other words, both players are done for the year…

Here's Department of Player Safety chief Brendan Shanahan's ruling on Neal. Cut to SHIELD:

– SHIELD –

.Video of Asham explanation and GIFs of all three hits after the jump.

CUT TO SHIELD!!!

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James van Riemsdyk Doesn’t Want You Booing Ilya Bryzgalov, The $51 Million Goaltender Searching For Peace

Kyle Scott - February 18, 2012

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Truth.

The goaltending situation got more uncomfortable today. Just a few hours before Paul Holmgren traded for Pavel Kubina, JVR and Ilya Bryzgalov spoke with the media, both touching on the scrutiny put on goaltenders in Philadelphia (gee, I wonder why?). 

First up, Bryz: [quotes via the Flyers city-leading PR department] 

Q: The fans got on you a little bit today, do you think it would be better for them to support you guys during struggles like this? What’s your reaction to that?

“You know, I think it’s an easy life when you can blame one guy…’it’s a bad goalie, it’s the goalie’s mistake.’ It’s easy to find a scapegoat. You point to one guy and say we’re always losing because we have a bad goalie, but I think it’s the wrong philosophy. I know I was frustrated in my game today and I know I have to be better and I will continue to work on this, but….I will try to find peace in my soul to play in this city”

 

Perhaps the woods would be a good place to find it. 

image from mobilwi.typepad.com

Photojob via reader Joe

Now JVR, coming off a ridiculous question in which he was asked if he was faking injury for the sake of not getting traded: 

Q: Talk about the goaltending situation. It’s been kind of a mess in the past, you were around for that, and people thought it was going to be fixed this year but clearly the fans seem to be turning on the goalies once again….”

“Yeah, you know what, I think those guys need to kind of keep quiet up there. I know they pay their money to see the team but you win as a team and you lose as a team. You can’t ever pinpoint it on one guy and we know those guys are working hard back there so we’re going to have to support them a little bit better and figure it out. It’s not just one guy, it’s all twenty of us that have to turn this thing around.”

 

Someone should tell Jim van Riemsdyk that the whole don’t boo us refrain didn’t work too well for Eagles players. 

JVR heard about it:

 

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And he responded…

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LeBron James and The Miami Heat Practiced at Temple Today… People Went Crazy and a Girl Told LeBron She’d “F$%k The Shit” Out of Him

Kyle Scott - February 3, 2012

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Lovely.

It seems like Sixers anthemist Ayla Brown wasn’t the only one who gushed over LeBron James this week. Today, LBJ, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of the Miami Heat practiced on Temple’s campus at the brand new Pearson-McGonigle gym. They received much fanfare– including construction workers hurling their helmets over a fence for LeBron's signature.

Video after the jump.

H/T to (@shawnmcbrearty). Other Pics via (@RichForever100) and (@thankzalot).

[Related: The Heat at Sabrina’s Café in Fairmount]

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