DETROIT >> It took awhile, but forward James van Riemsdyk is finally on the Red Wings’ roster.

The Wings were reportedly interested in acquiring van Riemsdyk two seasons ago at the trade deadline, but the trade was derailed at the last minute.

The two sides worked out a deal Tuesday, the first day of unrestricted free agency, with the veteran left wing signing a one-year contract worth $1 million, with a bonus structure to earn another $750,000.

“Kind of funny, back a few years ago it seemed like it was a team that was interested in bringing me aboard,” said van Riemsdyk Wednesday in a Zoom call with Detroit media. “Going through the free-agency process, when they started showing some interest, it seemed like a good fit. The trajectory of the team, they’re trying to make a push and the playoffs next year, all the history of being an Original Six place.

“That was super exciting. I have a lot of familiarity with the team, too. It checked a lot of boxes.”

The Wings are looking for van Riemsdyk, 36, to supply offense in the middle of their forward lineup.

Last season in Columbus, van Riemsdyk had 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points, in 71 games. He has scored at least 11 goals every year of his 16-year NHL career.

Being in the NHL that long, van Riemsdyk is confident he can adapt to whatever coach Todd McLellan needs from him.

“Especially over the last few years, as you kind of get older in your career, you kind have a calling card as a player,” van Riemsdyk said. “You have to find ways to get a bit more versatile and add value in different ways to a team, being able to contribute in different ways. I’ve been able to add different things to my game that make me play in different spots all over the lineup.

“You balance those things to playing your identity and calling card and being adaptible and versatile and being able to play different types of roles.”

When it comes to van Riemsdyk’s strengths, few around the NHL are better net-front. Many of his 327 career goals have come from being parked around the net and deflecting, tipping and knocking back pucks into nets from close range.

It’s a role van Riemsdyk has evolved into over the years.

“When you come into the league, a lot of guys are very talented, but being able to channel that in a way you can kind of carve out a niche role for yourself, I was kind of lucky,” van Riemsdyk said. “My first couple of years in Philadelphia, I had (veterans) Chris Pronger and Joey Mullen and spent hours on the ice before and after practice with those guys working on tipping pucks and little plays around the net with touch and feel, skill, and timing and positioning and leaning from some of those reps.

“They helped steer me in the right direction. That would be my calling card as a player, and I take a lot of pride and put a lot of work into it over the years.”

Being a part of the USA National Development Team Program in Plymouth Township, van Riemsdyk would attend games at Joe Louis Arena and focus on Tomas Holmstrom, one of the best net-front players ever.

“That was a guy over the years I watched and kind of how he went about his craft and pulled different things from him,” van Riemsdyk said.

Former Wings coach Jeff Blashill used to show videos of van Riemsdyk’s net-front prowess to players such as Anthony Mantha, as an example of how to be effective around the net.

“Blash may have mentioned that to me at world (championships) one year, it’s a nice compliment to get from him,” van Riemsdyk said. “Your odds are very good around the net if you want to score goals and be productive. That’s a big part of my game. Just the nuance, timing and things like that. I just want to be anchored around the net.”

Being in Columbus last season, and playing against the Wings, van Riemsdyk feels the Wings aren’t far away from being playoff contenders. He’s hoping his experience can help put the Wings over.

“I don’t think many people had us picked in Columbus to be where we were in the standings, but we came so close (to the playoffs) and unfortunately came up a bit short,” van Riemsdyk said. “You try to learn from it. There’s going to be little ebbs and flows throughout the season and times where it doesn’t go your way. But ultimately the only way to have success in this league and make the playoffs is to have that consistent approach and not let things get away from you too much.”

Joining the Wings, van Riemsdyk is able to reunite with friend Patrick Kane. The two were the first two picks overall in the 2007 Entry Draft — Kane going first to Chicago and van Riemsdyk second to Philadelphia.

“There was a game in Columbus last year he had a couple points and I had a couple points, and before the faceoff, after he scored a goal, we were going out there and he said something like ‘We still got it’,” smiled van Riemsdyk. “The love he has for the game, how much passion, and what it takes to get to this level, he’s kind of set the standard for that, and he’s still hungry for more.

“It’s infectious to be around.”