Ahh, it’s good to be back at work on a Saturday night. Last weekend felt weird. Tonight, Leafs fans will get to witness the return of the Father of the Hanging Mouthguard and Net-Front Savant James van Riemsdyk. There will be a video, some of us will cry, I just hope Gritty joins in on the green mouthguard salute.
For Toronto, JVR was many things. The return for Luke Schenn, Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak’s wingman on a first line that was about the only thing going well for the Leafs in that era, and also one of the Top 100 Leafs from their first century.