Should the Philadelphia bring Claude Giroux back to Philadelphia as an unrestricted free agent? That has become a popular discussion topic of late among Flyers’ fans. Let’s delve into the debate.
The Giroux Debate: The pros
Jason Mytetus and I touched on this topic at some length in this week’s “Mondays with Meltzer” edition of Flyers Daily. Should the Flyers bring impending unrestricted free agent Claude Giroux back to Philadelphia if the veteran Ottawa Senators’ forward tests the market for the second time in his career?
We are like-minded on this topic. Jason and I both think the answer should be no, even though both of us were staunch admirers of the player during his Philadelphia years. We understand the reasoning: Giroux can still help a team on the power play, and that’s an area the Flyers clearly need help. He remains a dominant faceoff man, especially in the right circle. He can still kill penalties. Amid an ongoing rebuild in Philly, Giroux is a sentimental favorite for his (right on the nose) 1,000 games played and 900 points. Moreover, Giroux forged a close relationship with Daniel Briere during their time together as Flyers teammates.
The cons
Let’s dispatch first with the final two points. There’s no place for sentiment in this discussion. The Flyers need to move forward, not backward to the past. Sentiment has its place in Alumni games, fan discussions and tribute nights (Flyers Hall of Fame, jersey retirements, events such Wayne Simmonds’ one-day contract for retirement purposes). It cannot be part of the equation in building a competitive NHL roster.
In terms of the more salient points raised, let’s go through them rapidly.
- Yes, Giroux can still play center. However, he’s better off as a full-time winger at this point of his career apart from taking faceoffs. The Flyers are trying to get bigger on the wings. Giroux is neither big nor fast. Quick through anticipation? Yes. Fast? No.
- You’re deluding yourself if you think it’s feasible to bring back the longest-tenured captain in franchise history and tell him to just be a background supporting piece. The Flyers absolutely MUST develop new leaders to become the next-generation versions of Giroux, Simmonds, Kimmo Timonen, Briere, etc.
- The dressing room grew stagnant late in his Flyers’ tenure. This was NOT Giroux’s personal fault. I cannot say this more vehemently, The captain still did all he could to lead by competitive example and hold himself accountable. Nonetheless, this fact remains: there was not enough teamwide accountability in a self-policing room. That was a collective shortcoming. Moreover, if you want to have the needed oxygen in the room to groom new leaders, it can’t be done retroactively.
- Why would Giroux even want to return to a rebuild in progress as a support piece? If he’s in a supporting role, it should be with a team with an immediate Cup contention window. Giroux played in the Stanley Cup Final (quite well, I’ll add) in 2010. He hasn’t been back since then. I’d think he’d want one or two more kicks at the can for the elusive Cup ring.
- Barring a Cup, what’s left for Giroux to accomplish in a Philadelphia return? Trying to play 145 more games as a Flyer to pass Bobby Clarke’s franchise record? Trying to get 100 more points for 1,000 as a Flyer? If the Flyers were one still-productive veteran away from a Cup window, those added personal stats might matter. The Flyers aren’t in that situation yet, unfortunately. Giroux isn’t ready to be just a power play specialist on a team that must overachieve to be on the playoff bubble. He still has something bigger to try and accomplish: earning a Cup ring of his own.
