There are few NHL stars who simply hit the ground running upon their arrival in the league and emerged steadily as dominant players in the world's top league. Most players go through ups and downs in their early seasons and then reach a jump-off point from which their careers take off.
In the case of Claude Giroux, we will start to find out next season if his outstanding run during the Stanley Cup playoffs (10 goals, 21 points in 23 games) marked the start of the takeoff to the NHL stardom that was predicted for him after a stellar junior career and solid performance at the 2008 World Junior Championships. There is no denying Giroux's incredible ice vision and his ability to make scoring chances out of nothing. But there's also no denying that Giroux has been a slow starter in his first two pro seasons and has had extended periods in the last two regular seasons which he's been invisible. In the playoffs, he has elevated his game, both as a rookie and second-year player. Entering his third pro season, he now has to carry that over on a more consistent basis.
Assuming that neither Jeff Carter nor Danny Briere are traded, it will be interesting to see how the Flyers work out their lineup. Both Carter and Briere have been more productive at center than wing, and Briere's 30-point outburst in the playoffs coincided with his return to the middle. On the flip side, Briere's defensive deficiencies are well known.
Giroux was primarily a winger until this past season. Although he's shown the promise of becoming an excellent playmaking center when he plays the middle, he's going to have to go back to wing if he's on either the first (Mike Richards) or second (Carter/Briere) line. On the third line, while there's the possibility that Giroux and second-year pro James Van Riemsdyk will click more consistently with added experience, it seems more likely that JVR still has learning and growing to do as NHL player (i.e., he will remain an inconsistent player next year).
I think the time has come to give Giroux the responsibility of playing in the top six. It seems likely that at least one among Carter, Briere, Simon Gagne or Scott Hartnell will be dealt to clear salary cap space, which will also open a top-six spot for Giroux. If all the aforementioned players return -- a possibility because all but Carter have no-trade clauses in their contracts -- I would still like to see the Flyers consider putting Gagne in more of a checking role or demoting Hartnell and giving Giroux more point-producing responsibilities as a winger.
If not, it will be up to Giroux to force the team's hand. He's certainly shown himself capable of doing so.
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Today's
Across the Pond at NHL.com looks at the
youngsters on Djurgardens IF Stockholm in Sweden's Elitserien. As few as one or as many as five could be chosen in the NHL Entry Draft this weekend: right wing Patrick Cehlin, right wing Arvid Strömberg, 20-year-old left wing Daniel Brodin, big defenseman Kim Lennhammer and/or goaltender Tim Sandberg.
Today's
Daily Drop at Versus.com looks at the European crop of draft prospects as a whole, highlighting the top candidates and several sleepers. Tomorrow, I will take a look at top-3 North American prospect Cam Fowler and on Saturday, will discuss which teams may have helped themselves the most with their draft-day trades and/or first-round selections.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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