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Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

3 Stars: ‘JVR’ off to a surprising, sneaky incredible start in Boston

By Ty Anderson
ELMONT, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: James van Riemsdyk #21 of the Boston Bruins skates against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on December 15, 2023 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

If ever there was a night that could’ve optimized what the 2024 Bruins are going to need down the stretch, it fittingly came in their first game of the new year, as Bruins general manager Don Sweeney‘s bargain-bin additions provided the lift in a victory over the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

And though I don’t have the banking records and nightly cap figures on hand, I admit, it’s hard to imagine a more economically-friendly scoring night than the one the Bruins got in this victory.

In what finished as a 4-1 win for Jim Montgomery’s squad, the Bruins got goals from Kevin Shattenkirk, James van Riemsdyk, Danton Heinen, and Trent Frederic. The total cost of those goals in yearly cap hit? A stunning $5.125 million, $2.3 million of which eaten up by middle-sixer Trent Frederic.

Or, if you want it broken down by cap hit per scorer, a cool $1.281 million.

This is like finding a special edition copy of ‘Gremlins’ under a stack of 50 ‘Christmas With The Kranks’ DVDs.

  • With the win, the B’s pushed their run to four straight victories, which is their longest win streak since a six-game win streak to open up the 2023-24 season.

    Here are the 98.5 The Sports Hub (dot com) 3 Stars from a win over the CBJ…

  • No. 3 Star: Danton Heinen

    Jan 2, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Danton Heinen (43) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

    Jan 2, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Danton Heinen (43) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period at Nationwide Arena. (Russell LaBounty/USA TODAY Sports)

  • Perhaps the best value signing of the bunch, the Bruins were able to put this game away early in the third period thanks to the fifth goal of the season for Danton Heinen.

    Brought in on a pro tryout and ultimately signed to a league-minimum, $775,000 contract on Oct. 30, the goal was good for Heinen’s first since Dec. 9, and was his 12th point of the season. All 12 of Heinen’s points over his 28-game run with the Bruins this season, have come at even strength, and provided a huge boost to a Boston club that at times has been a little too dependent on their star players and/or power play carrying them.

    Is Heinen the perfect player? Of course not. If he were, he wouldn’t have been taking a tryout offer in August or waiting until the end of October to sign his deal with the Bruins. But one thing’s for certain: Sweeney and the Bruins are getting their money’s worth when it comes to Heinen’s second stint with the club.

    One of 184 NHL forwards to log at least 350 minutes of even-strength ice time since Oct. 30, the 28-year-old Heinen ranks 93rd in points per 60 minutes, at 2.01. In case you’re curious, that’s a better rate than players such as Steven Stamkos, Tyler Bertuzzi, Mikko Rantanen, Matthew Tkachuk, Alex Ovechkin, and even Brad Marchand.

    Heinen’s also generating an individual expected goals per 60 of 1.02, which is tied for the 32nd-best mark among that group of 184. He’s also producing the 58th-most individual high-danger chances for per 60, at 4.19.

    If you haven’t already, perhaps it’s time to update your HoT tAkEz on Heinen’s effectiveness and value to the Bruins. Because it ain’t 2019-20 anymore, and the numbers are proving as much.

  • No. 2 Star: Kevin Shattenkirk

    Jan 2, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (12) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

    Jan 2, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (12) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Nationwide Arena. (Russell LaBounty/USA TODAY Sports)

  • Signed to a one-year, $1.05 million contract, it was a bit unclear what Kevin Shattenkirk could bring to the Bruins and how the Bruins planned on using the veteran right shot after a stint on some pretty dreadful Anaheim clubs.

    His usage was always going to be an interesting one to follow, because he was replacing a true defense-first type in Connor Clifton, and especially with how Clifton was used as an ‘RD-3’ for the Black and Gold.

    But as the season has gone on, you’ve seen a Shattenkirk that’s looked more and more comfortable with his fit in Boston, and with a strong Tuesday night performance that included his third goal in as many games.

    Overall, it was Shattenkirk’s fifth goal of the season (and in just his 30th appearance of the year), already eclipsing last year’s total of four in 75 games for the Ducks.

    In addition to the goal, Shattenkirk finished this contest with a team-leading three blocked shots.

  • No. 1 Star: James van Riemsdyk

    COLUMBUS, OHIO - JANUARY 2: James van Riemsdyk #21 of the Boston Bruins is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal during the second period of the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on January 2, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

    COLUMBUS, OHIO – JANUARY 2: James van Riemsdyk #21 of the Bruins is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on January 2, 2024. (Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

  • Under most circumstances, a player like James van Riemsdyk would not have fallen into the Bruins’ laps. But fortunately for Boston, a flat cap only tightened the anaconda vice on veteran free agents, and the veteran winger was also coming off what was the unluckiest year of his pro career.

    The end result? A one-year, $1 million contract with Boston that’s looking like a potential steal of the year deal.

    On the board with a goal and two assists in the B’s victory in Columbus, van Riemsdyk kicked off his night with a power-play marker that put the Bruins back up in the middle period, which was also good for the 6-foot-3 wing’s first goal since Dec. 15, and just his second in his last 18 games overall.

    van Riemsdyk would continue his hot night with a pair of third-period assists, the first coming with his big frame keeping the puck in the slot area, and the second coming with yet another pretty feed (he’s had more than a few of those this year, which most of us didn’t expect to be such a huge part of his game, I’d admit).

    Given some of his lengthier droughts, it’s hard to think that the 34-year-old is a true ‘steal of the year’ type. But then the NHL shared this little tidbit: With 25 points through 34 games, van Riemsdyk is actually the fastest Bruin to record their first 25 points with the club since Marc Savard recorded 25 points in 19 games during the 2006-07 season. I mean, that’s downright crazy when you think of the different names and faces that have rolled through Boston in the 18 years between Savard and van Riemsdyk.

    van Riemsdyk is currently paced for what would be a 17-goal, 59-point campaign with Boston. A 59-point season would be JVR’s best since a career-high 62 points with the Maple Leafs back in 2016-17.

Click here for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s complete coverage of the Bruins. 

Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. He has been covering the Bruins since 2010, and has been a member of the Boston chapter of the PHWA since 2013. Yell at him on Twitter/X: @_TyAnderson.

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