Claude Giroux wasn’t happy with how last season ended on a personal level.
Who could blame him?
He believes he’s among the most talented players in the world. So do his teammates, the Flyers management and even the fan base. Yet, playing through a banged-up hip towards the end of the season and through the playoffs caused him to slow down a bit and not be able to do everything he wanted to out on the ice.
Now he’s out to regain lost time.
“I wasn’t happy with the way I was playing either,” Giroux said. “Personally I have the motivation to have a good season this year and play well. It’s disappointing when you don’t play the way you want to and how you see yourself as a player.
It’s a motivation and I’m looking forward to it this year.”
Giroux finished with 67 points, his lowest output in 70-plus games since the 2009-10 season. He only had 13 points over the final 19 games (including the playoffs), scoring just five goals in that span. He was held scoreless in the Washington series, tallying just one assist in six games.
He’s using that – and not his World Cup of Hockey situation – as fuel for this year.
“I see a real calm, focused fire in him,” said head coach Dave Hakstol. “That’s a good thing. What the motivation is, I won’t speculate on that. But what I see in him is a real calm, fiery, motivated player right now.”
Kyle Phillippi covers the Flyers for Broad Street Hockey as well as the manager of Flyzette. He also contributes to CSNPhilly.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Kyle_Phillippi.
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