"Bleeding Orange And Black"
Philadelphia, PA • United States • 18 Years Old • Male
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Claude Giroux: Get to know the name
Posted 7:05 PM ET | Comments 0
<p><span style="font-family: arial; color: #000000;"><strong></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://s5.tinypic.com/2ujmw42.jpg" border="0" alt="Jussi Jokinen" width="576" height="324" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; color: #000000;"><strong>Claude Giroux was the Flyers first round pick (22nd overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.</strong></span></p>
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<p>If you're a Flyers fan, by now, you know who Claude Giroux is. If you live and die hockey, you know who Claude Giroux is. If you're just an average fan or you just follow one team without really knowing what goes on around the league, well this blog will let you know who Claude Giroux is.</p>
<p>Giroux is a 21-year old star-in-the-making for the Philadelphia Flyers. His natural position is wing, but he has been playing centermen for the Flyers. He is quite undersized, standing at 5'11" and weighing 172 pounds. Oh did I mention that he's a rookie?</p>
<p>He played his junior hockey with the <em>Gatineau Olympiques </em>of the QMJHL, and before he even played in the American Hockey League, he was making the Flyers fans aroused just to think what he could do with the big guys. Giroux went insane in the playoffs for the Olympiques last year, such a performance that I dropped my jaw.</p>
<p>In 19 games in the playoffs, Giroux had 51 points (17 goals, 34 assists), setting a team record for most points scored in the playoffs., as he led the entire QMJHL in points and assists. He won the QMJHL Playoff MVP and led the Olympiques to the championship game.</p>
<p>During the regular season for Gatineau, Giroux was named to his first all-star team with a phenomenal season. He posted 38 goals and had 68 assists for 106 points in <em>55 games.</em> Giroux was second in the QMJHL in assists, second in points, third in plus/minus (plus-40), fifth in game-winning goals (8), third in shorthanded goals (6), and thirteenth in goals.</p>
<p>Now that was just Juniors, but those are some gaunty numbers, pretty gaunty numbers.</p>
<p>Giroux has played a total of 38 games for the <em>Philadelphia Phantoms</em> - Flyers AHL affiliate. In 2006-07, he played five games, scoring a goal and an assist with a minus-2 rating. He started there this year, and had 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) in 33 games.</p>
<p>Many people were disappointed with Giroux because it seemed about <em>everyone</em> thought he would make the Flyers' roster out of training camp, but he had to have four wisdom teeth removed and just wasn't that ready yet.</p>
<p>He got his chance when injuries started to bite the Flyers' behind, especially that of Danny Briere. He played his first game with the Flyers this year (played two games last year, didn't score) against the <em>Chicago Blackhawks</em> back on December 26, 2008, which was a 5-1 loss.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; color: #000000;"><strong>Giroux has 19 points in 32 games played for the Flyers.</strong></span></p>
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<p>As the season progressed on, Giroux got more and more effective and comfortable to a point where he's now a top-6 forward on a team with six players with 20 or more goals scored (Jeff Carter, 40; Simon Gagne, 30; Mike Richards, 28; Scott Hartnell, 27; Mike Knuble, 26; Joffrey Lupul, 21).</p>
<p>Recently, Giroux replaced the captain, my favorite player, Mike Richards on the top line, as he is centering Gagne and Knuble - he didn't replace him because Richards has been playing poor, he replaced him because John Stevens wanted to get Briere back to a top six player.</p>
<p>Although he now is the center of Gagne and Knuble, he has played with them on the powerplay, so there is a past sense of chemistry. Those non-Flyers fans may ask why do such act? Why take your best player off of the first line? ... that's a two part answer. First, Mike Richards creates no matter who he has on his sides. Second, depth.</p>
<p>In 32 games played with the Fly guys, Giroux has five goals and 14 assists for 19 points, he has a plus-10 rating and averages 15:07 minutes of ice time per game. Those aren't lights out numbers, but really, he hasn't played with any of the big players on the Flyers. Before the trade of Scottie Upshall - oh, how much I miss you - Giroux was either centering or playing right wing on a line of Upshall and Darroll Powe.</p>
<p>Yet he still impressed.</p>
<p>Giroux has 16 points in his last 26 games played, only having three points in his first six games - eight points in his last nine games - and has averaged around 15:42 minutes per game.</p>
<p>According to <em>Sportsnet.ca's scouting report</em>, Giroux is, I quote, <em>"Has electric moves, outstanding offensive creativity and plenty of finishing skills. Is at his best with the puck on his stick."</em> Those are his "assets" according to <em>Sportsnet</em>, and his "flaws" are <em>"needs to get physically stronger and prove he can withstand the pounding of the National Hockey League game. Must adjust to the speed of the NHL."</em>, and according to <em>Sportsnet</em>, his potential is a first line winger.</p>
<p>Well, as of today, he's a first line center ...</p>
<p>Giroux is a terffic player, kills penalties, scores goals, but what he does best, is make plays. He is becoming one of the best playmakers on the team. Behind Richards, Giroux - at least in my opinion - is the best passing forward on the roster.</p>
<p>Giroux assisted on Gagne's 30th goal last night, and after the game, Gagne said that Giroux reminded him of Peter Forsberg. With Forsberg, you <strong>must</strong> have your stick on the ice when he had the puck because more than probable, he would get you the puck. Giroux is just like that. He has great hands, great pass, great vision, great anticipation, and well, simply he's already a great player.</p>
<p>He's a "magician with the puck" - as the Flyers play-by-play guy Jim Jackson would say - and sometimes, he makes you think to yourself: "What the hell did he do that for?"...only two seconds later see a Flyer come and unleash a shot on goal.</p>
<p>The Flyers have played on NBC the last two Sundays, and each game, they have said a lot of good thing (eh, why not speak like a French-Canadien) about Giroux and even Versus (if you're lucky enough to find it...). I shouldn't be proud of that though, becase I hate NBC and VS - mainly because they are biased against the Flyers, but eh, who the hell isn't and they don't really know hockey.</p>
<p>If you don't know the name Claude Giroux already, well, get to know it. In a year or two (maybe three), he will be a household name - when it comes to hardcore hockey fans - and he will be a pleasure to watch and I am extremely aroused at the idea that I'm going to be able to watch him possibly playing wing of Richards.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://s5.tinypic.com/2ujmw42.jpg" border="0" alt="Jussi Jokinen" width="576" height="324" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; color: #000000;"><strong>Claude Giroux was the Flyers first round pick (22nd overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.</strong></span></p>
<hr />
<p>If you're a Flyers fan, by now, you know who Claude Giroux is. If you live and die hockey, you know who Claude Giroux is. If you're just an average fan or you just follow one team without really knowing what goes on around the league, well this blog will let you know who Claude Giroux is.</p>
<p>Giroux is a 21-year old star-in-the-making for the Philadelphia Flyers. His natural position is wing, but he has been playing centermen for the Flyers. He is quite undersized, standing at 5'11" and weighing 172 pounds. Oh did I mention that he's a rookie?</p>
<p>He played his junior hockey with the <em>Gatineau Olympiques </em>of the QMJHL, and before he even played in the American Hockey League, he was making the Flyers fans aroused just to think what he could do with the big guys. Giroux went insane in the playoffs for the Olympiques last year, such a performance that I dropped my jaw.</p>
<p>In 19 games in the playoffs, Giroux had 51 points (17 goals, 34 assists), setting a team record for most points scored in the playoffs., as he led the entire QMJHL in points and assists. He won the QMJHL Playoff MVP and led the Olympiques to the championship game.</p>
<p>During the regular season for Gatineau, Giroux was named to his first all-star team with a phenomenal season. He posted 38 goals and had 68 assists for 106 points in <em>55 games.</em> Giroux was second in the QMJHL in assists, second in points, third in plus/minus (plus-40), fifth in game-winning goals (8), third in shorthanded goals (6), and thirteenth in goals.</p>
<p>Now that was just Juniors, but those are some gaunty numbers, pretty gaunty numbers.</p>
<p>Giroux has played a total of 38 games for the <em>Philadelphia Phantoms</em> - Flyers AHL affiliate. In 2006-07, he played five games, scoring a goal and an assist with a minus-2 rating. He started there this year, and had 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) in 33 games.</p>
<p>Many people were disappointed with Giroux because it seemed about <em>everyone</em> thought he would make the Flyers' roster out of training camp, but he had to have four wisdom teeth removed and just wasn't that ready yet.</p>
<p>He got his chance when injuries started to bite the Flyers' behind, especially that of Danny Briere. He played his first game with the Flyers this year (played two games last year, didn't score) against the <em>Chicago Blackhawks</em> back on December 26, 2008, which was a 5-1 loss.</p>
<table border="0" width="300" align="right">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p><img src="http://cache.daylife.com/...0x.jpg?center=0.5,0" border="0" alt="" width="300" height="200" /><span style="font-family: arial; color: #000000;"><strong></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; color: #000000;"><strong>Giroux has 19 points in 32 games played for the Flyers.</strong></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>As the season progressed on, Giroux got more and more effective and comfortable to a point where he's now a top-6 forward on a team with six players with 20 or more goals scored (Jeff Carter, 40; Simon Gagne, 30; Mike Richards, 28; Scott Hartnell, 27; Mike Knuble, 26; Joffrey Lupul, 21).</p>
<p>Recently, Giroux replaced the captain, my favorite player, Mike Richards on the top line, as he is centering Gagne and Knuble - he didn't replace him because Richards has been playing poor, he replaced him because John Stevens wanted to get Briere back to a top six player.</p>
<p>Although he now is the center of Gagne and Knuble, he has played with them on the powerplay, so there is a past sense of chemistry. Those non-Flyers fans may ask why do such act? Why take your best player off of the first line? ... that's a two part answer. First, Mike Richards creates no matter who he has on his sides. Second, depth.</p>
<p>In 32 games played with the Fly guys, Giroux has five goals and 14 assists for 19 points, he has a plus-10 rating and averages 15:07 minutes of ice time per game. Those aren't lights out numbers, but really, he hasn't played with any of the big players on the Flyers. Before the trade of Scottie Upshall - oh, how much I miss you - Giroux was either centering or playing right wing on a line of Upshall and Darroll Powe.</p>
<p>Yet he still impressed.</p>
<p>Giroux has 16 points in his last 26 games played, only having three points in his first six games - eight points in his last nine games - and has averaged around 15:42 minutes per game.</p>
<p>According to <em>Sportsnet.ca's scouting report</em>, Giroux is, I quote, <em>"Has electric moves, outstanding offensive creativity and plenty of finishing skills. Is at his best with the puck on his stick."</em> Those are his "assets" according to <em>Sportsnet</em>, and his "flaws" are <em>"needs to get physically stronger and prove he can withstand the pounding of the National Hockey League game. Must adjust to the speed of the NHL."</em>, and according to <em>Sportsnet</em>, his potential is a first line winger.</p>
<p>Well, as of today, he's a first line center ...</p>
<p>Giroux is a terffic player, kills penalties, scores goals, but what he does best, is make plays. He is becoming one of the best playmakers on the team. Behind Richards, Giroux - at least in my opinion - is the best passing forward on the roster.</p>
<p>Giroux assisted on Gagne's 30th goal last night, and after the game, Gagne said that Giroux reminded him of Peter Forsberg. With Forsberg, you <strong>must</strong> have your stick on the ice when he had the puck because more than probable, he would get you the puck. Giroux is just like that. He has great hands, great pass, great vision, great anticipation, and well, simply he's already a great player.</p>
<p>He's a "magician with the puck" - as the Flyers play-by-play guy Jim Jackson would say - and sometimes, he makes you think to yourself: "What the hell did he do that for?"...only two seconds later see a Flyer come and unleash a shot on goal.</p>
<p>The Flyers have played on NBC the last two Sundays, and each game, they have said a lot of good thing (eh, why not speak like a French-Canadien) about Giroux and even Versus (if you're lucky enough to find it...). I shouldn't be proud of that though, becase I hate NBC and VS - mainly because they are biased against the Flyers, but eh, who the hell isn't and they don't really know hockey.</p>
<p>If you don't know the name Claude Giroux already, well, get to know it. In a year or two (maybe three), he will be a household name - when it comes to hardcore hockey fans - and he will be a pleasure to watch and I am extremely aroused at the idea that I'm going to be able to watch him possibly playing wing of Richards.</p>