OK, so the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft took a couple of weeks off for vacation. But this summer, van Riemsdyk is spending as much time as he can at the Flyers' practice facility.

"It's a luxury to have, to be within driving distance to come down here," van Riemsdyk said. "It's not every day that you have a trainer like Jimmy McCrossin in your backyard. I really want to take advantage of that because it's something I need to work on, my strength and conditioning.

"And you can get on the ice once and a while."

McCrossin has a willing pupil in van Riemsdyk. Fresh off his freshman season at the University of New Hampshire, van Riemsdyk is attending his second Flyers prospect camp in Voorhees this week.

"I know last year I was dragging after the first day, but I feel pretty good now," van Riemsdyk said.

Before the prospect camp, McCrossin had the 19-year-old van Riemsdyk lifting in the weight room and running on the track in an effort to build the young player's endurance.

Van Riemsdyk said getting in better shape has been a priority this off-season after scoring 34 points in 31 games for New Hampshire. He scored only one goal in UNH's final 15 games.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren sees vast improvement in van Riemsdyk's conditioning.

"His on-ice conditioning tests we did the other day were outstanding," Holmgren said. "He was the only guy who really finished the test."

Statistically, van Riemsdyk's freshman season at UNH was disappointing, but he led all scorers at the 2008 World Junior Championships with 11 points. Despite that, Van Riemsdyk insisted on returning to UNH next year rather than going pro.

Holmgren has "mixed emotions" about his decision to stay in college.

"He's a player that needs the puck," Holmgren said. "A lot of times when I saw him last year [at UNH], he didn't get the puck that much. When he gets the puck in the offensive zone, he can do good things.

"We'll see. This is going to be a big year for him."

Van Riemsdyk is confident the extra time spent with McCrossin this summer will improve his stamina.

"He knows his stuff," van Riemsdyk said. "He expects your best effort, and I have no problem giving it to a guy like him. He's going to mold you into a better athlete and have you be more ready to make the jump to the NHL."

Marshall plan. The Flyers signed 6-foot-1, 195-pound defenseman Kevin Marshall to an entry-level contract yesterday. Marshall, 19, recorded 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points and 143 penalty minutes in 66 regular-season games for the Lewiston MAINEiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this past season.