<em>Flyers:</em> Van Riemsdyk Enjoying Second Season in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Flyers have emerged as not just one of the elite teams in the NHL this season, but perhaps also as the league's deepest. They've gotten contributions from players up and down the roster, including second-year forward James van Riemsdyk.
Van Riemsdyk was the Flyers' #1 pick (second overall) in the 2007 draft. Last season he played in 78 games, finishing with 35 points, and so far this season he has netted 12 goals and 12 assists in 48 games.
"Feel pretty good about my game right now," he told KYW Newsradio on Friday. "I think I'm becoming more comfortable on the ice and just kind of know what I need to do to make myself successful, night in and night out. And when you have confidence in what you can do out there, that goes a long way."
Hear the entire James van Riemsdyk interview in this CBS Philly SportsPod...
Born in Middletown, NJ, van Riemsdyk is enjoying playing for a team that is so close to his old stomping grounds.
"It's pretty cool for me to be so local and be able to share with a lot of friends and family," he says. "It definitely makes it that much more special that I always know I have someone in the crowd or my family -- that I can share every game. I know it's pretty thrilling for my brothers, especially, to be able to come down and see an atmosphere like it is in Philly and come to a lot of games and stuff. So I am definitely grateful that I can share this whole experience with them."
As far as the Flyers teams is concerned here in 2011, van Riemsdyk says he thinks it is their depth that really sets this Flyers team apart.
"I mean, you look around the league and you see some teams that have that good top line that you can key in on. And if you shut them down you have a good chance of winning. But with us you can kind of pick your poison with what line you want to try and shut down: you have other lines that can step up and contribute," he says.
The Flyers will be at home on Sunday afternoon, to host Los Angeles at the Wells Fargo Center.
Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060.
