DURHAM - They were scrolling across the bottom of the screen while his teammates watched NESN's rebroadcast of last weekend's game against Boston College. They were referred to in a few Facebook notes he received. And they were reported in messages from a few internet-savvy friends.

So though James van Riemsdyk isn't actively seeking information about who might hold his NHL rights after next week's trade deadline, he simply can't avoid the rumors that have his name swirling around the hockey world.

According to a variety of published reports, the Philadelphia Flyers are looking to strengthen themselves for an Eastern Conference playoff run, and are reportedly willing to part with the player they took second overall in the 2007 draft in order to do so.

"I wouldn't say I'm following it, maybe by default because people are sending me messages about it and asking me about it every day," the University of New Hampshire sophomore said yesterday. "You can't really help but know what's going on. Obviously I know what some of the possibilities are out there, but you never know. Usually the stuff that you hear about is the stuff that never happens."

The stuff van Riemsdyk has heard most about are reports that have him headed to either Florida or Atlanta, as Philadelphia aims to shore things up at the defensive end. The Flyers are said to be looking to pry top-flight defenseman Jay Bouwmeester - already a two-time all-star at age 25 - away from the Panthers, or perhaps grab goalie Kari Lehtonen from the Thrashers. He's a former second-overall pick himself, in 2002.

"If Atlanta GM Don Waddell continues to rebuild," wrote Darren Dreger of TSN in Canada, "swapping Lehtonen for a prospect such as van Riemsdyk would have to be seriously considered."

Van Riemsdyk said he's somewhat flattered to see his name floated in potential swaps for such high-caliber players, especially considering he's just 19 years old and hasn't yet played a pro game.

And although he's already developed relationships with some of the people within the Flyers' organization - specifically mentioning the training staff, equipment managers and members of upper management - he said he won't take it personally if he never got the chance to realize his NHL dream in Philadelphia. Business is business, he said, and he understands every team is going to do what it believes in its own best interest.

"It would be maybe a little bit disappointing," said van Riemsdyk, who has 13 goals and a team-high 34 points this season. "But, at the end of the day, hockey is a business, so stuff like this does happen. You've just got to roll with it."

Because he has no control over how things play out, van Riemsdyk said he hasn't spent time worrying about where his rights are headed, nor will he give it much thought between now and Wednesday's trade deadline.

Therefore he doesn't think the rumors will become a distraction, either for himself or for a Wildcat team trying to lock up ice home-ice advantage in the Hockey East playoffs.

"He's a pretty mature kid," UNH Coach Dick Umile said. "He understands it's out of his control."

Given that maturity, as well as van Riemsdyk's wealth of experience at high levels of competition, Umile said he told the sophomore at the start of the season he would treat him like a senior. Knowing full well - because van Riemsdyk can turn pro at any time - he may never be one as a Wildcat.

"That would be really nice, but I think that's like dreaming," the coach said with a smile and a laugh. "I want him to become a junior."

Whether he will is in part up to the Flyers. At least for now.