“When the best player in the world comes up to you and tells you, ‘I don’t know who you’re planning on starting tonight, but I want that first shift’, that says everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
This was said<\/a> of Claude Giroux<\/a><\/strong> by former Philadelphia Flyers<\/strong><\/a> Head Coach Peter Laviolette<\/a><\/strong> after the monstrous 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 6 put in by his captain.\u00a0Giroux scored the opening goal of the game in his opening shift, his sixth for the playoffs, crunching fellow \u201cworldy\u201d Sidney Crosby<\/a><\/strong> with a huge hit, and sniping the puck over the shoulder of Marc-Andre Fleury<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n The goal would propel Philadelphia to a 5-1 series-clinching win over their hated rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0Laviolette\u2019s quote was certainly hyperbole, but Giroux was the best player on the ice in a series featuring Crosby and Fluery among others.<\/p>\n In the year of Giroux’s mammoth series and Laviolette\u2019s quote, he finished 3rd<\/sup>\u00a0in points in the NHL<\/a>, and was nominated for the Hart Trophy.\u00a0The discussion surrounding the Ontario native used to be centered on, \u201cjust how good is he?\u201d Now, it sounds more like, \u201cis he good any more?\u201d<\/p>\n Giroux was not himself last year. 14 goals and 44 assists for 58 points was his lowest full season total since his rookie year, after coming off surgery in the offseason.\u00a0The optimist looks at these numbers and says, \u201cit was the season after an injury, he\u2019ll bounce back,\u201d which he may. The pessimist says, \u201cGiroux was poor to end 2016 also, maybe he\u2019ll never be elite again.\u201d<\/p>\n The realist notes it\u2019s impossible to gauge how well Giroux will play this season. Maybe he will bounce back, maybe he won\u2019t.\u00a0There\u2019s a very good chance he\u2019ll continue to be elite on the power play, where he finished equal second in the League last season with 29 points (yes, exactly half his entire points total).<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s five-on-five where Giroux is starting to decline formidably. In 2015-16, he took a step backwards, but by 2016-17, he\u2019d put the car in reverse, managing just 18 points total in over 1,100 minutes.\u00a0Giroux is 29 now, and turns 30 in the middle of the next season. Next year will be his 11th<\/sup> in the NHL, and its entirely possible Philly\u2019s captain never makes it back to his early career form.<\/p>\n Of course, the Flyers will be hoping their captain has another 70-point season in him. The risk is, if he doesn\u2019t, and his sharp decline continues, is there a risk his days on Broad Street are done?\u00a0Probably not, is the answer. Giroux will carry <\/a>a cap hit of $8.275 million this season, which is a contract that includes a no-trade clause.<\/p>\n It is unlikely the contract of a first-line centre will be moved when the player is producing like a fourth-line centre, especially when that player can veto any trade made.\u00a0However, the talent profile of Philadelphia\u2019s roster is strongly inclined towards youth. Travis Konecny<\/a><\/strong> and Ivan Provorov<\/a><\/strong> are both 20, while Shayne Gostisbehere<\/a><\/strong> and Jordan Weal<\/a><\/strong> are both 25 and under.<\/p>\n The Flyers also just made 18-year-old Nolan Patrick the second-overall pick in the 2017 Draft, and many expect him to log at least a small amount of ice time in the League this season.\u00a0General Manager Ron Hextall<\/a> had previously said he didn\u2019t anticipate trading any of his \u201colder core\u201d, but things change quickly the NHL. Brayden Schenn<\/a><\/strong> was traded to the St. Louis Blues this offseason for two first round picks.<\/p>\n Others whose futures have come into question include 29-year-old Wayne Simmonds<\/a><\/strong>, and 28-year-old Jakub Voracek<\/a><\/strong>, both who have been steady the past few seasons.\u00a0However, veteran leadership is important to a young team, and as the captain of a team who has been to the Stanley Cup Finals, Giroux provides that.<\/p>\n Many have noted that, as more help arrives, his workload will decrease, and his production will increase.\u00a0Another potential solution to the problem is moving Giroux back to wing, where he started his career alongside the aforementioned Richards and Carter. The problem with this is Philly doesn’t have a lot of depth at centre.<\/p>\n Either way, this issue should not be downplayed. It is a problem, and an expensive one, as Giroux is still owed over $41 million over the next five years inclusive.\u00a0The Flyers either need to find five more years of production in their waning captain, or a willing trade partner, and the latter may not be possible without the former.<\/p>\n Main Photo:Philadelphia Flyers Leaving Claude Giroux Behind<\/h1>\n
Recession<\/h3>\n
Roster Makeup<\/h3>\n
Philadelphia Moving On?<\/h3>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>