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Philadelphia Flyers’ Claude Giroux a Forgotten Elite Status Player

By Marko Ollonqvist

Oct 27, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (28) against Arizona Coyotes during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (28) against Arizona Coyotes during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Claude Giroux Is the Second-Most Productive Player in the NHL Since 2011-12. He Has Also Become One of the Most Versatile Players in the League, yet Still, He Is Not Regarded as One of the Best Players.

Before Claude Giroux was drafted into the NHL, many scouts said that he had all the skills, but there’d be no use for him in the best league in the world. The main problem must have been his small size, but luckily for Giroux, he didn’t listen. For him it was just another day at the office: He was used to the fact that everyone looked down on him.

Well, actually I should take some of my words back because after those scouting reports came out, he became one of the best players in the QMJHL and he scored 103 points for the Gatineau Olympiques in 69 games. So it did have an impact on him, a positive one.

After that incredible season with the Olympiques, the Philadelphia Flyers were sold. And even though Bobby Clarke didn’t remember Giroux’s name, when he went to the stand to announce that the Flyers have decided to draft him, they knew right away that they had something special on their hands.

Oct 29, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (28) celebrates his goal with Philadelphia Flyers right wing Wayne Simmonds (17) against Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (28) celebrates his goal with Philadelphia Flyers right wing Wayne Simmonds (17) against Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Now the 28-year-old Hearst, Ontario native, is the 19th captain of the Philadelphia Flyers. He’s one of the most dangerous players on PP and he has the skill-set so many can only dream of.

He has scored the second-most points in the NHL since 2011-12 – to be exact 397 points in 401 games (three points behind Sidney Crosby at 400), and he is also one of the best face-off men in the league. Last season, he ranked 6th among regular centermen with a 57.5 % on the face-off dot.

But the most valuable thing for him is that he never lost his faith and that’s the thing still driving him forward. You can hit him as hard as you can, but he just keeps getting up. He’s visibly angry at himself if he makes mistakes and you can see his passion for hockey, shift after shift and game after game.

So why is Giroux so underrated?

One thing is that the Flyers haven’t had any success lately. This falls way too heavily on “G”, although, in reality, it’s not his fault that the players around him haven’t been good enough.

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Paul Holmgren, who used to be the GM of the team and is nowadays working as the president for the Flyers, is the man to blame. He ignored the fact that the young core of the team wasn’t ready for instant success and because of that he handed out some horrible contracts.

So, I’m assuming that the Stanley Cup ring, or lack thereof, would have quite an impact on how people see Giroux; actually, the Flyers will have a chance to win it, thanks to Ron Hextall who has patiently built the new coming of the Orange and Black.

No justifiable answer…

Also, one thing is the plus/minus category. Even though Giroux has scored more points than any other NHL player in the last five years, he’s been a minus player four times during his career, which started back in 2007-08. So basically the same thing has happened with G as it has with Alexander Ovechkin – it doesn’t matter if you are a leader in points or goals when even though only occasionally, you are a minus player.

Maybe the simplest answer to the question above is this: Apparently many people don’t realize what Giroux has done during the last few years.

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They only see certain stats, but not the things he’s actually doing in the rink. How else could you explain that a guy, who 1) scores more points in the NHL than anyone else (next to Sidney Crosby) 2) is one of the best players in the face-off dot 3) is the architect in one of the most dangerous PP’s in the league 4) kills penalties 5) is on the rink when you either have to protect your lead or score some goals to get back in 6) is the captain in one of the most demanding hockey markets in the NHL, is underrated?

That’s right – there’s no justifiable answer for that.

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