Two weeks into the 2026-27 NHL season, James van Riemsdyk and Reilly Smith were still on the board, leaving teams looking for quick help with veteran options still available. Both former Boston Bruins players were listed among Bleacher Report's top eight remaining free agents, with Smith at No. 3 and van Riemsdyk at No. 4.
That matters now because the season is already moving and clubs that missed on early roster fixes are still searching for depth. Michael Bunting was added to the Philadelphia Flyers roster last week, a reminder that some teams are still making moves while others have held back on the remaining free-agent market.
Smith is the more intriguing case because the numbers pull in opposite directions. The 35-year-old played 69 games last season for the Vegas Golden Knights, finishing with 16 goals and 26 points, and he was minus-9. He also played seven playoff games last spring, had a pair of assists, and averaged 12 and a half minutes per game. Even with that drop, Lyle Richardson wrote that Smith's production tumbled to a career-low 26 points in 69 games, but he still could be a good addition for any club looking for a skilled third-line winger.
Van Riemsdyk comes with a different kind of appeal. The 37-year-old is the steadier fit for teams that want a power-play specialist rather than a full-time top-six scorer. Richardson wrote that his experience and offensive touch could make him effective for teams seeking extra scoring punch, which is why his name still belongs in the mix even as the market thins.
The open question is whether a team decides the price is still right for either veteran before the market closes on its best remaining options. Smith offers more recent playoff use, van Riemsdyk offers a cleaner power-play role, and both are the sort of stopgap additions that can matter when a roster needs help without a long commitment.
