There
is no doubt that Evgeni Malkin and Steven Stamkos are greatly talented players,
but Claude Giroux has the best case for the Hart. Over the summer Flyers General
Manager Paul Holmgren took this Flyers team and put it on the back of Giroux
after trading away captain Mike Richards and Jeff Carter.
Last
season Claude Giroux had a breakout season tallying 76 points in 82 games which
placed him at 13th in the point totals tied with 3 other players. The season he
had showed the emergence of one of the next young superstars in the NHL. This
season Claude Giroux is currently 3rd in points with 86 behind Steven Stamkos
and Evengi Malkin.
Giroux's
biggest reason for Hart is his linemate, Scott Hartnell. He may have helped
save Hartnell's career as a Flyer after a disappointing start for the left
winger. Hartnell has now hit a career high in goals and points and is tied for
the league lead in powerplay goals with 15. Giroux was placed on a line with future
HOF forward Jaromir Jagr ,who spent his previous 3 seasons in the KHL, who he
clicked well with early in the season after scoring his first goal of the
season against Boston in the first game of the season.
Claude
Giroux makes whoever he plays with better, whether it be on his line, power play,
or penalty kill he boosts other players skills. He has been a huge part of the
penalty kill and has played well defensively all season.
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| Clade Giroux (left) and Jaromir Jagr (right) |
