The James van Riemsdyk era has begun in Philly

The wait is over. The second coming is here!

James van Riemsdyk, the second overall pick in the 2007 draft, has signed a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. van Riemsdyk spent the last two years at the University of New Hampshire but has finally decided to begin his professional career. He will likely play the rest of the season with the Phantoms, and is in fact already playing for them as I type this on Wednesday night.

While JVR probably won't play for the Flyers until next year at the earliest, there is good reason to get excited about this 19 year olds future. Hockeysfuture.com ranks him as the number 5 prospect in hockey and expects him to be on a top line with the Flyers by 2010. JVR already had a succesful season with UNH, putting up 40 points in 36 games, but it will take him some time to adjust to the professional level. Once he is ready, he has the hands, speed and size to be a solid power forward for years to come.

For now, revel in some of his highlights from New Hampshire: