JAMES van Riemsdyk arrived at the Flyers practice facility in Voorhees, N.J. for a noon meeting yesterday less than 12 hours after returning from Buffalo on a postgame charter.
Van Riemsdyk was feeling fresh, not at all sluggish from a bone-crunching hit along the boards with 6:20 to play in Buffalo.
In fact, van Riemsdyk even skated briefly in an option practice to shake off any lingering cobwebs, a normal game-day routine to get his blood flowing.
He arrived at the Wells Fargo Center at his normal time last night, fully expecting to play in last night's 4-3 shootout loss to the Devils. He kept to his normal pregame ritual. He took part in the Flyers' pregame warmups, skating on his line with Danny Briere and newcomer Sean Couturier.
Then, van Riemsdyk was scratched from the lineup without explanation.
According to a team source, speaking to the Daily News last night on a condition of anonymity, Flyers coach Peter Laviolette was "especially critical" of van Riemsdyk's performance on Wednesday night - despite the fact that he scored a highlight-reel goal against the Sabres - and called him out during a team meeting.
Officially, the Flyers said van Riemsdyk is "day-to-day" with a nondescript "lower-body injury."
Contrary to reports, van Riemsdyk was slightly injured on a hit from the Sabres' Andrej Sekera late in the game, but it was not his knee that was affected. Van Riemsdyk tweaked his groin or hip area, as he was stretching out to move the puck when he was awkwardly crunched on the boards. Still, it was not an injury that would have normally kept him out of last night's game.
"He could have played and expected to play," the team source said.
Seems to me the lower body injury with JVR can be attibuted to a lack of ballz!
He's definitely gone back to his mercurial ways...again it's mental with him so I dont fault Lavy for trying to get him motivated. Luckily he's got another year until that contract extension begins where he'll have to earn his keep more.
If this is true, I hope it wakes him up - because he has been "OK" at best this year.
If he "wants it", JVR can dominate in this league. However, I am not convinced he wants it enough.
I don't see the point in scratching him after a pre-game skate. If the reason for benching him was disapproval based on the prior night's game, then the scratch would have been decided earlier in the day. If the injury is groin, or even a knee, it could have tightened during warmups and at that point a decision was made to err on the side of caution.
I don't see the point in scratching him after a pre-game skate. If the reason for benching him was disapproval based on the prior night's game, then the scratch would have been decided earlier in the day. If the injury is groin, or even a knee, it could have tightened during warmups and at that point a decision was made to err on the side of caution.
The chronology may not make sense but it is still plausible he's not happy with him..not like he's played fearless like in the playoffs. Could be that he's playing injured and not pushing himself as well or unable to. Who knows. Guess a thread should be started entitled "Flyers fans unhappy with Philly media."
Lavs needs to check his ego. Seems like hes butting heads with a new set of players this year.
JVR has been far from good. Same thing happened last season with the same player.
Anyway on the journal article, Im not saying it is true, but I though everyone here liked Frank and trusted him? If Im not mistaken wasnt he a mod on HF once before? (or just a plain member but was on hf)
The article is right, but is trying to draw a link.
Lavy was pissed about JVR's game, called him after the game, they had a meeting the next day. Fine. Issue over.
JVR took morning skate, regular pre-game preparations, went to the warm up, felt not 100%, made mention to staff and they said better be safe then sorry. He comes out of the line-up. End of story.
I believe both instances are correct, where the article goes wrong is trying to convince the reader that the two seperate incidences are connected. I dont see them as being related at all.
