Claude Giroux
There are still doubts as to whether or not this NHL season is going to be played or not. Instead of worrying and wondering you should be productive and evaluate fantasy hockey prospects as though the season were still on track to begin. It will give you a leg up on the competition if the season does abruptly start and it will give you a leg up on your opponents if we have to wait a year for the NHL to come back because no one else will do the research. One of the main players to keep your eyes on during the lockout is Claude Giroux. He’s fully made the transition to starting caliber fantasy hockey player. In fact he’s ascended to elite status and is a probable first round pick in any fantasy hockey league.
Giroux brings a lot to the table for the Flyers and he’ll bring a lot to the table for your fantasy hockey team as well. He’s got elite playmaking skills and he often makes points out of nothing when no one else can. He’s the top goal scorer on his team and that’s not likely to change. Jaromir Jagr left the Flyers in the offseason but he was hardly an intrinsic part of the team and it’s unlikely that he’s absence will seriously hamper Giroux’s development. He’s not quite the best player in fantasy hockey but he’s certainly top eight. Depending on your league he’s anywhere from a fifth overall pick to an eighth overall pick but if you expect him to fall much beyond that you’re only fooling yourself. Try not to miss out on Giroux because he has the makings of a breakout player this year. Of course it’s hard to be a breakout when you’re already elite but that’s just testament to the fact that he’s still got a lot of unrealized potential.