After last night’s debilitating loss at the hands of the New York Islanders, it’s time for Claude Giroux to hand the reigns over to Sean Couturier.
Through 3 games in this second round series, the Flyers have scored just 4 goals. That’s 4 goals in 9+ periods of hockey and get this. They haven’t scored a goal AFTER THE FIRST PERIOD in regulation!
If you scroll the Twitter and the Facebook, you’ll see the typical Negadelphian just waiting to trash Claude Giroux. That’s ok. They’re entitled to their opinions, no matter how uneducated and shitty they are.
Claude Giroux has been around long enough and given us, as fans, enough of himself throughout the years that I have a hard time trashing him. Can I still hold him accountable? Absolutely, but I have a hard time bringing up playoff years in which his line was literally the only one worth defending on the roster.
Having said that, I believe it’s time for Sean Couturier to take hold of the reigns and lead this time. He’s a Selke Trophy candidate year in and year out and he has the offensive talent to boot. Proving so with his back to back 30 goal, 70+ point seasons, becoming the first Flyer since John LeClair to accomplish such a feat.
Sean Couturier is everything you want from a top line center in that he can shut down the oppositions best forward as well as lead the charge in the offensive zone. He carries himself well, doesn’t take bad penalties, can play in the dirty areas, and leads by example.
It’s never been more clear to me that this team follows Couturiers lead. If Coot’s is playing well, the rest of the team follows. During this Islander series Couturier has basically been non existent.
It’s time, it’s time for Sean Couturier to cement his presence as the alpha male on this team. I mentioned his hat-trick performance against Pittsburgh in my last article. You remember, the one where he played with torn ligaments in his knee?
He has it in him, the will and desire to win. We want to see it! We know it’s in there! So while we know Claude Giroux has underperformed, his numbers don’t need mentioning, I’m looking for Sean Couturier to lead this team offensively.
If he truly is a “star” and unquestioned leader of this Flyers team, then this is the stage to shine.
Follow me on Twitter @JimIkeHW
Photo Credit: NBC Sports
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