It has not been the season that Claude Giroux or the Philadelphia Flyers hoped for. One year ago, Giroux scored 67 points, and helped the Flyers to an incredible second half run. It took the Flyers from well down in the NHL standings into a playoff spot. This season has been the opposite. The Flyers seemed to be looking good headed into the second half of the season. However, Giroux and the Flyers have fallen apart and it now seems likely that the Flyers will be on the outside looking in when the playoffs start next month.
Claude Giroux Reveals That he has Been Playing Through Hip Injury
Claude Giroux has been ice cold for parts of this season. He has had long stretches with minimal production, a serious problem for a team looking to make the playoffs in the tough Metropolitan, easily the best division in the NHL. In total, Giroux has 14 goals and 53 points in 72 games, a significant drop off from his past production. Giroux is on pace for his lowest total since 2009-10 (excluding the lockout shortened season when Giroux still hit 48 points in 48 games).
Now part of the reason for that drop-off can be explained. Giroux recently revealed that he has struggled with a hip injury for much of the season. Giroux had surgery on his hip in May 20016, and it was thought that he would be 100 percent for the 2016-17 season, but it appears that was never the case.
Giroux Comments
“When you try to make plays you used to make and can’t really make them, it is frustrating and confusing,” Giroux said to Philly.com. “When you start getting the confidence back, you know you can make those plays you just go out there and make it happen.”
“I think when you don’t think about that kind of stuff, you go out and play the game, but when it is in the back of your mind and you are really not thinking about the game and mostly thinking about your hip or whatever, I think it is important to kind of focus on the right things,” he said.
“Even if you don’t feel good out there, you have to find the right way to be strong mentally.”
The Flyers hope that the 29-year-old Giroux can use the extra time off this spring in order to be fully healthy for next season. They will need their captain to return to being a point-per-game player in order to challenge for the playoffs.
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