"Eric will be a great asset to the organization as he works with our young drafted players, helping them to prepare their game for the next level," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "Eric was a great Flyer, and his experience will be invaluable to the young players in our system."

In the newly created position, Desjardins will work with the coaching staffs of the Flyers and the Phantoms, their American Hockey League affiliate. He called it "an honor" to return to the club.

"When I left, I knew that I was a Flyer forever," he said.

Desjardins, 39, retired from the Flyers after the 2005-06 season, concluding his 17-season NHL career. He recorded 136 goals and 439 assists and 757 penalty minutes in 1,143 regular-season games for the Montreal Canadiens (1988-89 to 1994-95) and the Flyers (1994-95 to 2005-06). In 11 seasons with the Flyers, Desjardins recorded 93 goals and 303 assists in 738 regular-season games. He is second on the Flyers' all-time list among defensemen in goals (93), assists (303) and points (396), trailing Mark Howe in each category. He is eighth on the club's career list in games played (738), third among Flyers defensemen (trailing Chris Therien and Joe Watson).

A member of the Canadiens' 1993 Stanley Cup champions, Desjardins won the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers' outstanding defenseman a franchise-record seven times.

In one of the best trades in Flyers history, Desjardins was acquired from Montreal in February 1995 with John LeClair and Gilbert Dionne for Mark Recchi and a third-round pick in the 1995 draft.

Prospect camp. Claude Giroux, a highly touted 20-year-old right winger who is expected to be a Flyers regular this season, will be among the players participating in the club's prospect camp at the SkateZone in Voorhees from Sunday through July 26.

The camp is open to the public at no charge. Times will be announced later in the week.

With R.J. Umberger traded to Columbus and Sami Kapanen ending his NHL career to play in his native Finland, it appears Giroux will be given every opportunity to stick with the Flyers during training camp in September.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Giroux led the Gatineau Olympiques to a four-games-to-one series victory for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League championship; he was named the MVP of the playoffs after collecting a staggering 17 goals and 34 assists in 19 games. Giroux, the Flyers' first-round pick (22d overall) in the 2006 draft, finished second in the league with 106 points (38 goals, 68 assists) during the regular season. He was scoreless in a two-game emergency call-up with the Flyers but appeared comfortable on the ice.

Thirty-six players are expected to attend the camp, including three other first-round picks: Steve Downie (2005), James van Riemsdyk (2007), and Luca Sbisa (2008).

Trial on the Isle. The Flyers will hold their annual conditioning event, Trial on the Isle, through the streets and waters of Avalon and Stone Harbor next Wednesday.

Flyers draftees who are in the area for the team's prospect camp will demonstrate their conditioning in a triathlon, which includes cycling, kayaking and running.

The all-day event, which will begin at 9 a.m., will start and finish at the fire station at 96th Street and Second Avenue in Stone Harbor. After the Trial on the Isle, the players will be available for autographs at the Windrift Resort Hotel and later will participate in a softball game against local celebrities at the 80th Street Field.