JVR is signed for the next six seasons at $4.25 million per season. (Getty Images)

Like Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, James van Riemsdyk signed a long-term extension with the Philadelphia Flyers presumably to stay there for a long time to come. As Jeff Carter said before the Stanley Cup; "That's why you sign them, yeah."

And now, like Carter and Richards both, could van Riemsdyk be on his way out of Philly? Well, the rumors they are a spinning.

First you have Blue Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline, who has been as on top of the Rick Nash saga as anybody possibly could be, tweeting this out about JVR and the possibility of going to Columbus.

That's as great a piece of news as any to begin negotiations if you're Scott Howson, GM of the Blue Jackets. The last time he dealt with the Flyers he got a player who didn't seem to want to be in Columbus. So you know that any time Howson is considering trades he will remember that and try not to run into the same problem again.

The fact that JVR would be OK with playing in Columbus is a nice foundation for rumors! So next we have this tweet from Flyers reporter John Boruk, citing Hockey Break, which you can take as seriously as you choose to.

According to @HockeyBreak, Nash is willing to go to Flyers in a deal that could include JVR, Read, Bob and a 1st-round pick.

I'd say this is a rumor that's really taking off, now isn't it?

Van Riemsdyk's name being on the trading block is nothing new. He was rumored quite a bit before this year's trade deadline came and went too. For some reason Paul Holmgren seems to have a habit of signing his players to good extensions and then immediately regretting it and looking for a way out.

Right now, though, Portzline says there is not a lot going as far as traction in trade talks at the moment and Howson will wait as long as he has to for the right deal. That's been his stance all along, and I will maintain it's hard to blame him. It's very tough to get an equal return any time you trade a star player, so at least hold on for the best chance at a good package.

However, it's not just Columbus or bust in the JVR rumor world. Oh no, Sharks reporter Kevin Kurz is bringing his name up as a potential target for San Jose now that the asking price from Columbus is too rich for their blood.

Oh, but it doesn't stop there. Not at all.

Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com says the Flyers are also high on Ducks forward Bobby Ryan -- who isn't? -- and, of course, he mentions van Riemsdyk as the key part in a return package to Anaheim. One Jersey boy for another?

Any deal with the Flyers from the Ducks’ perspective would have to center around Brayden Schenn, a source told ESPN.com Thursday, as Anaheim is desperate to find an upgrade at the No. 2 center position. My sense is that the Flyers have very little interest in moving Schenn. They view him as way too valuable to do that. Winger James van Riemsdyk is the player more likely to move out of Philadelphia if the Flyers make any splash over the next few weeks.

Why do I get the feeling that JVR is never going to be off the trade block as long as he remains with the Flyers? He has already had a few injuries to battle through at this early stage of his career. Plus, if the Flyers could unload a salary that seemed a bit high for a player who hadn't quite proven it yet, maybe Holmgren would welcome the opportunity.

H/t to Crossing Broad

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