By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Wayne Simmonds was back where it all began on Sunday. Back in the arena where he scored his first NHL goal in his third NHL game as a 20-year-old. Back in the arena he called home as a member of the Los Angeles Kings for three seasons after being their second-round pick in 2007.
On Sunday, Simmonds was the Most Valuable Player and scored the game-winning goal for the Metropolitan Division, taking center stage alongside names like Crosby, Ovechkin, McDavid, Carter and Doughty.
The player who the Flyers acquired as part of a major roster shakeup, one who wasn't even the highlighted player in the trade return, was regarded as the best player on the ice on Sunday, and has been among the Flyers best for six seasons now, bringing his career truly full circle.
Simmonds was always a good role player for the Kings, but never a standout, All-Star caliber player. He had nine goals and 23 points in his rookie season. He had 16 goals and 40 points in his second season. He followed that up with 14 goals and 30 points the following season.
During this time, the Kings were drawing closer to becoming a Stanley Cup contender. And Simmonds was along for the ride. Until June 23, 2011.
Roughly two weeks earlier, Paul Holmgren pulled the trigger on a deal that brought the rights of goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to Philadelphia, and gave them until July 1 to exclusively hash out a re-signing. In order to do that, they had to shed cap space.
So on June 23, the Flyers pulled off two stunning trades to do it. One involved future King Jeff Carter, who went to Columbus for Jake Voracek and two draft picks, later used on Sean Couturier and Nick Cousins. The second deal sent current captain Mike Richards to Los Angeles and brought back Simmonds, Brayden Schenn and a second-round draft pick that was later traded.
Schenn was the highlight of the package, being a fifth overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. Voracek was also previously a top prospect, being selected seventh overall in 2007. Simmonds was the 61st selection in 2007 as the Kings second-round pick.
But Simmonds climbed through the ranks quickly and found his way to the NHL and into Kings fans hearts with his work ethic. But role players tend to be more expendable, especially when a team is ready to take the leap and go for broke in a bid for the Stanley Cup.
Simmonds was traded in the offseason prior to the 2011-12 season. One year later, the Kings were hoisting the Stanley Cup.
But Simmonds was starting to make a name for himself in Philadelphia. His work ethic and grit was embraced in Philadelphia, and now that he had a top-six role, he quickly became a scoring threat, posting a career-high 28 goals and 49 points in his first season in Orange and Black.
Since then, Simmonds has been a star in Philadelphia. He scored 15 goals in the lockout-shortened 2013 season. He posted a new career-high in 2013-14 with 29 goals. Had an injury not cut his 2014-15 season short, he would have reached a new career high in goals again the following season, but settled for 28 in 75 games.
Last season saw another career-high in goals with 32 and matching a career-high in points with 60. So far this season, Simmonds 21 goals and 38 points in 50 games has him on pace to set new career marks in both categories. It also earned him an All-Star appearance, back where it all began.
This weekend wasn't just a homecoming for Simmonds, but a welcoming as well. For all the hype that other players get with their overall skill, speed and hands, Simmonds showed he has some of that and then some. If there's one thing Simmonds really has a lot of, it's heart. And that's what endeared him to fans in Philadelphia and why the fans of L.A. hardly forgot about him at all, even six seasons after the trade.
Fans in Philadelphia and Los Angeles aren't surprised at all by Simmonds' success, because hard work breeds it. His leadership, will and heart say it all. But the rest of the league sure learned a thing or two about Wayne Simmonds at the All-Star Game.
If anything, hockey fans around the league learned that Wayne Simmonds is a likable guy and a damn good hockey player.
