Claude Giroux Appreciation Thread

[DancingPanther]

Giroux is the only constant in my coming-of-age hockey life. I started watching him on the team in middle school. I'm now a grown ass 28 year old (hah) crying like a baby out of frustration, lamentation, and oddly a weird sense of pride. This shit sucks. It sucks because it never had to be this way. It sucks because management ran this team into the ground and forced this into "goodbye". Giroux should have played every single NHL game as a Flyer, but because of some of the worst management in sports history- from transactions to player development- he won't. Giroux is a saint for putting up with this team's nonexistent player, coach, and administrative talent evaluation. The one final middle finger to him - a microcosm of his time here - was his coach being so tone deaf that he deployed Patrick Brown to take the final defensive zone draw (which ended up being draws because of icings) despite Giroux being a top 5 faceoff winner in the NHL in front of the home crowd. This organization gets nothing right and doesn't deserve the greatness Claude brings as a person, role model, leader, father, husband, teammate, and hockey player, but I'm proud to have shared my time as a fan with his time as a player.

The last sentence is what this thread is about. Share your highlights, your gifs, your autographs, your stories...share everything you have about the best Flyer to ever put on a jersey.

I'll start: I met Giroux in passing at the Flyers Wives Fight For Lives Carnival in 2017. I was lucky enough to win a raffle to meet Ivan Provorov and spend time with him as he signed autographs. As I met Ivan near the locker room, I saw a few players milling about. Claude was one of them. From a few yards away, in passing as I was going to my meet up area with my chaperone dude, I thanked G for everything he's done and everything he's going to do. He smiled and just said thanks for being a great fan. Then I met Ivan and I asked him about his time acclimating to the NHL when he was a rookie, and he specifically named Giroux for being so welcoming.

As for a highlight

 

[Beef Invictus]

In his debut, Giroux made it blatantly clear he was going to be really good. I didn't know he was going to be this good, but definitely good enough immediately to be enough bottom six spark to make the team really good. After the 2009 playoff elimination I was arrogantly telling all my hockey friends (who are almost entirely Caps, Rangers, and Penguins fans) that the Flyers would go to the Finals the next year, and that Giroux would be a big factor. When we traded for Pronger I was even more insistent. They tried to feed me crow as the season unfolded but damnit I ended up being right.

Even then, though, I recognized that terrible management was putting the team in a situation where everything was going to blow up because of their neglect of obvious cap realities. But Giroux was enough spark to put me over the edge and go all-in on that window. Which abruptly closed with that abortion of a 2010 off-season before being totally bricked up in 2011.

Giroux was the last player who could make me put aside scorn for Flyers grotesque management and be downright hopeful and enthusiastic. It's a shame the mismanagement won out in the end. But Giroux was always a delight and fun to watch. As a forward, rivaled only by Couturier. A bright spot in a time so dark the best I could manage during our supposed "hopeful rebuild" was skeptical and reluctant optimism as it was hard to see how any of the team's timelines could come together to get them out of the muck.

I don't buy player jerseys. I just don't do that. I got a Giroux jersey in March 2010 to go with my LeClair, because it was obvious by then that he deserved it.

 

[Rich Nixon]

I dropped my talkin' about Giroux on Pittsburgh local news anecdote in the postgame thread from last night, but Giroux really made my 6+ years in Pittsburgh (2008-2014) way better. He brought me happiness when I didn't have much, which sports should do.

I was pretty depressed and struggling to get back to myself for much of my senior year of college, which corresponded with his amazing 2011-2012 season. One of the best pieces I wrote for school at the time was called "Sludge Giroux," a personal piece for a creative/narrative writing course that contrasted my struggle to do the things I'd consistently done with how Claude Giroux seemed to do incredible things effortlessly...a lot about the mind and instincts and confidence and dread from my own concussions and Lindros's bubbled up when Giroux got his concussion that season. Hard to explain I guess, but it made sense as a series of vignettes.

Watching him dominate that year was a way out of the hall of mirrors I'd built for myself--even just writing that and reflecting. The guy literally helped my mental health just by playing really good hockey. I've watched a ton of hockey in my life, but I don't think I will ever enjoy or value watching a player the same way I did with that player, that year.

Then the playoffs began on my birthday, so you know I was torn up in the smokey dive bars in my Lindros jersey for all of those games, an orange terror in a sea of depressed vegas gold. That was the full reemergence for me, just that pure burst of vengeful excellence that he led. Nothing felt better than wearing the orange and black walking around Pittsburgh that spring, and feeling like "yeah, you got your guys, but we've got one, too." Didn't shake out quite the same longterm, but holy f***, that was fun.

Claude Giroux had us walking a lot taller for a while. It hurts like hell that they've fumbled his career for the last 8+ years. I want him back next year, and I know in my heart he'll play his last games as a Flyer. I just want him to have something to show for it.

He'll be back.

 

[achdumeingute]

He's a great player, and been a joy to watch. I don't care what scraps we get for him, I just want him to win. Rod Brindamour raising the cup is my favorite hockey moment (kimmo too). I want him to have that. I hope he never comes back to this dumpster fire.

 

[DrinkFightFlyers]

Sad to see him go. Likely a HOFer, probably will hit 1k points, hopefully he wins a Cup and returns here. Tragic that they couldn't put together a team around him to get him a Cup here. Please do not sign with anyone in the Metro in the offseason (or MTL or TOR).

 

[Hurricane28]

I was 9 when Giroux was drafted, so Im in the boat with you DP. Grew up trying to be like Claude Giroux and trying to emulate the 2012 goal against Pittsburgh and then doing the celebration in my driveway. He's all I've known since I really got into this team in 5th/6th grade. There really is going to be a huge void when he leaves and I don't think the older Flyers fans who call him overrated realize it. It is extremely depressing Homer/Hextall/Fletcher couldn't build a contender around him. And they'll get no blame from a majority of the fanbase, with the olds instead blaming it on Giroux.

It is a dark day today, perhaps one of the darkest in franchise history, because there is no hope. There really isn't. Even though I'm moving back to the area and I can go to more games with my dad who has been a STH since the 80s, I probably won't. There's no savior on the way. Nothing to get excited about.

 

[flyerslducks]

I’ll never forget the cup run, the penguins playoff series, the endless dekes and passes…one of my favorite players of all time and it hurts that he has to leave to win elsewhere. I’m sorry we failed you g and this alone should be a fireable offense by everyone in charge.

One of my favorite things ever was the winter classic year. He was so damn dominant and it was the best winter classic / HBO series ever.

Best f***ing captain and flyer. Love ya g

 

[Striiker]

Giroux is everything you want your star player and face of the franchise to be. Ultra-skilled, hyper-competitive, smart, quick, creative, exciting, likable… and he’s still a great player, even at 34.

He’s been the constant positive over the past 13 or so years that I’ve paid close attention to this team and it’s disgusting and embarrassing that this franchise let him down the way it did. All he’s done is bust his ass and carry this dogshit franchise on his back for over a decade, without a single complaint. He deserves a cup more than anyone and that’s all I care about seeing at this point.

I’m not someone who buys jerseys or team memorabilia, but I recently went out and bought and framed a signed Giroux jersey and I’m glad I did.

 

[Flyrs21]

This thread is making me sad again.

 

[DancingPanther]

And it's official

 

[daynus]

I decided to go to a live draft, as opposed to watching it on TSN. I went to the 2008 Draft in GM Place, Vancouver.
it was even more boring than watching it on tv. Our pick comes along, I’m thinking it’s this 20 some ranked guy from OHL. Clarke mumbles and mispronounced this guys name, I’m looking in the Hockey News Draft preview and I think I found a Claude Giroux ranked 37 or so. We struck gold again at 22 spot. Gagne and Giroux. Go win a cup in Florida and I hope we resign Claude.

 

[flyershockey]

I decided to go to a live draft, as opposed to watching it on TSN. I went to the 2008 Draft in GM Place, Vancouver.
it was even more boring than watching it on tv. Our pick comes along, I’m thinking it’s this 20 some ranked guy from OHL. Clarke mumbles and mispronounced this guys name, I’m looking in the Hockey News Draft preview and I think I found a Claude Giroux ranked 37 or so. We struck gold again at 22 spot. Gagne and Giroux. Go win a cup in Florida and I hope we resign Claude.

You're getting old, my friend. Giroux was drafted in 2006.

Claude and I are the same age, so in essence, he's the first player that I've followed his entire career as an adult. Despite the ineptitude of the franchise, he's been an absolute beast for a decade+, and often the only reason I still tune in. It really is a shame that he plodded though such bad management and had such little playoff success, because the cup run in 2010 and the run in 2012 cemented that the guy was meant for the big stage. I know Philly is a pretty big market domestically, but it kind of gets lost in the NHL world when the team is down, despite the Comcast/NBC dollars behind them. The rest of the hockey world really underrates this guy because of the lack of team success.

I hope the guy wins a cup. I hope he comes back. And finally, I hope they do the right thing and retire 28 to the rafters.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

He’s been the man on my team for most of my adult life. Sad times. I’ll always remember G by his OT goal in the Stanley Cup and “the shift”. Giroux could get me f***ing pumped. Best of luck to him. Hope to see him lift the cup

 

[Striiker]

And it's official

The Flyers are truly dead now.

Orange team until we see funerals.

 

[Bruckuss]

I need to come back to this when I step back from the ledge.. possibly the worst day as a flyers fan next to big E and prongs going down, or the Blackhawks cup loss for me.

Happy for Giroux to go on to something bigger and better, you deserve to win, and I'm sure you will. One of our all time greats, you'll be missed and it was a pleasure watching for 15 years. Sad day for flyers fans

 

[CanadianFlyer88]

I knew, like everyone, he was getting traded before Monday, but it still doesn't seem real. This is definitely the trade that has hit me the hardest as a fan of this ever dwindling organization.

As I mentioned in the GDT for his 1000th game, I was at his draft in Vancouver. I was still watching a lot of junior hockey at the time and felt some responsibility to watch this kid after the Flyers picked him. If you were lucky enough to watch him during that Gatineau the next two years, you were in for a treat. The only other future NHLer I can think of on that team was Paul Byron, but G carried that club and had a playoffs to remember in 2008, even if it was cut short because his supporting cast was decidedly subpar... something he wouldn't leave behind in Quebec.

I remember his early days with the Flyers where his hockey IQ really made him stand out. I also clearly remember seeing him take faceoffs like a seasoned vet and posting on here that the Flyers finally found a guy who could be a consistent top faceoff taker and someone saying something like "you know he's 2/9 at the dot tonight, right?" He's always been the smartest player on the team; the closest has been Couts, but he doesn't have the same dynamism.

It's really a shame that the mediocre team he has played with for most of his career has deprived him of great playoff moments. The video for his 1000th game really highlighted that. Game 3 OT vs Chicago and Game 6 vs Pittsburgh were the only playoff highlights in his pack, I think. I genuinely hope he's revved to do something special for the Panthers.

The year Hall won the Hart, G was robbed. I'll never forgive the voters for that, particularly because I think it will he held against him when it comes to HHoF consideration. It's actually maybe the only good thing Clarke can do, being a strong voice for G to get in, if Clarke is still on the selection committee when G finally becomes eligible.

He was such a pleasure to watch. As simple a statement as that is, it's the perfect summation of my thoughts of G as a player. As long as he was in the lineup, I knew there was an almost guaranteed moment where he'd make me smile at a play only he could pull off for the Flyers.

It's his longevity as a Flyer that makes this hurt the most. He's been the face of the franchise for over a decade, something so rare that shows just how special a player he is. He's established roots in Philly, so I hope he'll be back some day in some capacity.

I wonder how long this will take to sink in. Maybe the first time I see him play for Florida. Maybe never.

Should have been a Flyer for life.

Go win that Cup, G.

 

[The Rage Kage]

I was 8 when Giroux was drafted. At that time my favourite player was Gagne, as my favourite player when I was really young it wasn't really decided based on how he played or his skills. Instead I saw an interview he did at the 2002 Olympics, when my parents told me he played for the Flyers he became my favourite player.

Before the 09-10 season I dont have many clear memories of the Flyers (the main one is my dad making fun of me for being a Flyers fan in 2007 when the Flyers sucked and the Sens went to the finals). The first big memories I have are Giroux scoring the shootout goal against the Rangers in that final game, and Giroux running out the clock in game 7 against Boston.



Ever since, Giroux has been my favourite player. He was the player I watched during my formative years, the one I would try and fail to imitate on the ice. Its kind of like your first time getting drunk with your friends, there is a different quality in those moments, you cant recreate those feelings. I am sure there will be new players I like on the Flyers, but even if they gets their shit together, I doubt I will ever have a favourite player in the same way again. It really is the end of an era.

 

[flyerslducks]

Man i f***ing hope he can win a cup. No one deserves it more. Sad it wasn't with us.

 

[trostol]

 

[Starat327]

Credit to @Appleyard here obviously.

The dudes closest comparable were all 1st overall picks, if anyone was wondering.

A league of his own.

 

[Striiker]

Credit to @Appleyard here obviously.

The dudes closest comparable were all 1st overall picks, if anyone was wondering.

A league of his own.

And all were on teams with SIGNIFICANTLY more help than Giroux had.

 

[Legion of Gloom]

Along with G. Howe, Clarke and Lindros Giroux is one of my favourite players.

Sad to see him go and was looking forward to see him get his 1000th point as a Flyer.

 

[shipwreck]

Wonder if this is true:

Flyers deny report that tiff arose between team and Claude Giroux in negotiations​

Before he was traded Saturday to Florida, Claude Giroux asked Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher for assurances he would be able to re-sign with the club during the free-agency period this summer. When Fletcher declined, Giroux would only agree to waive his no-movement clause for the Florida Panthers.

Flyers deny report that tiff arose between team and Claude Giroux in negotiations

Before he was traded Saturday to Florida, Claude Giroux asked Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher for assurances he would be able to re-sign with the club during the free-agency period this summer. When Fletcher declined, Giroux would only agree to waive his no-movement clause for...

phillyhockeynow.com

 

[Philly Fanatik]

If the Flyers are retooling…they must start with a defence and a style of play to alleviate the constant pressure on Carter Hart…leaving the poor guy out to dry too much in games!
Before Philadelphia even think about free agents or even a notion of Giroux coming back…there are important decisions to make in house first.

 

[DancingPanther]

If the Flyers are retooling…they must start with a defence and a style of play to alleviate the constant pressure on Carter Hart…leaving the poor guy out to dry too much in games!
Before Philadelphia even think about free agents or even a notion of Giroux coming back…there are important decisions to make in house first.

Trading Giroux should plainly signify this is not a "retool". Only morons will believe that. Our GM is one of those morons