This sounds pretty firm, and we’ll know for sure tomorrow at noon, but if James van Riemsdyk returns to the Flyers, he’ll be going to the team that drafted him second overall in 2007, and who foolishly let him go for Luke Schenn.

The trade happened in 2012 at the draft. In his six years with the Leafs, van Riemsdyk spent a lot of time scoring goals. He hit career highs in points in 2016-2017 and goals in 2017-2018.  But in all that time, he only saw 20 playoff games.

As a native of New Jersey, returning to the Flyers is a double homecoming, as his hometown is not far away from Philadelphia.

We all knew this was coming, but there will be a big hole on the Leafs where he used to stand, in the crease, scoring goals.

We’ll update you tomorrow when there’s firm news, but for now, it’s all starting to sink in. The Leafs will be a whole new team in three months.