Alexandre Giroux

Currently Alexandre Giroux is rated a 0.5 on the HF site (for comparison Spezza is a 9.5, Vermette 7.5, and Greg Watson 5.5), and is not considered in the top 20 prospects. Not sure why Giroux is only a fraction. See Hockey's Future - Ottawa Senators (http://www.hockeysfuture.com/team.php?team=18)

In two games against the evil Leafs, Giroux has been quite impressive. See: Senators stick it to T.O. (http://canoe.ca/OttawaSports/os.os-09-28-0033.html)

"I think we got a strong game from everybody," said Senators coach Jacques Martin. "The vets played well, but the kids showed the tremendous progress that they're making. Giroux is a good example. He's just been getting stronger and stronger. And Jason (Spezza) has made tremendous progress."

(Sidebar: Note that Spezza has now made it to first name basis with Martin - expect him to play on top 2 lines and get plenty of ice time - also expect lots of trade proposals from fans of other teams once they realize the improved Spezza we have).

It seems to me that Giroux is now re-establishing himself as a good prospect, and might see some ice time with the big club this year. He provides that nice third-line (i.e. fourth line on the Sens, third line everywhere else) combination of scoring, some size, and ability to be tough when necessary. He no longer is a .5

(Sidebar: Note that Spezza has now made it to first name basis with Martin - expect him to play on top 2 lines and get plenty of ice time - also expect lots of trade proposals from fans of other teams once they realize the improved Spezza we have).


I like that touch from Jaques - its definitely a subtle psychological way of showing he has approved of the way Jason is playing and behaving.

That 0.5 rating for Giroux has bugged me for a while. At WORST, I see him as being a career AHL role player. That would rank him atleast a 3.0-3.5. IMo though he has a higher ceiling than that and may even get a chance in the NHL (though probably not with the sens) as a solid 3rd or 4th liner. If it were my choice He'd have a rating of 4.5 or 5.

I hope your right about Spezza. I'm really looking forward to a Schastlivy - Spezza - Hossa line getting 1rst or 2nd line minutes, possibly being kept together for some PP time.

I watched the Habs game against Ottawa one week ago, and eventhough I've mainly watched our players, I was pretty impressed by Giroux's performance. He has shown good speed and agility all night long, and even got a breakaway midway through first period, if I'm not mistaken.

Alexandre looked like he could adjust easily to the NHL skil level. I'm not used to post reports about other teams' players, but Giroux has simply been too impressive for me to pass by. He must definatly be one of the most surprising players at your team's camp.

No way in hell he is a 0.5! I'd say he could easily be rated at 5.5 or 6.

it's kind of funny that he's 0.5 when a minor league role player is 3, which he already is above. I'd give him a 4.5

Giroux's well above that rating, and frankly always should have been... he's 10 times the player that a guy like Scott Dobben (4.5) ever has been - my take is that his rating was carelessly assigned based on his late-round draft status, and thus-far limited exposure on a very young Binghamton team that is loaded with young talent. Still, it's a pretty strange lack of awareness for a site dedicated to recognizing young talent - that kind of mechanical rating system you expect from a group like ESPN or something... not HF.

Having seen him play a fair bit in Hull*, the knocks on him were his skating speed, conditioning and overall one-dimensional attitude towards the game. But I don't recall it ever being questioned that he was a very skilled sniper, a tough guy willing to drop the gloves, and a pretty noticeable clutch player (he's always up there in GTG and GWG) who scores more when it counts than when it's a rout.

Giroux seems to have worked on all three of the above noted weaknesses, and he very much has the skill set to be a pretty well-rounded player. Given his seemingly good attitude towards things, he seems now destined to have at least a solid AHL career, if not a crack at a 3rd/4th line NHL job.

Call him a career minor leaguer if you want, but rated beneath "unlikely to make it out of junior/college"? That rating was a joke from the get-go - let alone now.


* his QMJHL numbers... http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid%5B%5D=43741

Giroux has always been my favourite no-name prospect on the sens. Everyone seems to forget that he was a 50 goal scorer in the Q, but was very undersized in the AHL, a problem which he has rectified. In his first year in the AHL he was something like 6"3 165, which is really thin. If he can hit 200+ he might have a shot at spot duty on the sens sometime.

Just had a thought occur to me - If Giroux can show the ability to fight, he could possibly be a replacement Chris Neil, with considerably more offensive upside.

Just had a thought occur to me - If Giroux can show the ability to fight, he could possibly be a replacement Chris Neil, with considerably more offensive upside.

I'm all for replacing Neil, but Giroux is no heavyweight. There's no way he could endure a year of enforcement duties.

I'm all for replacing Neil, but Giroux is no heavyweight. There's no way he could endure a year of enforcement duties.

Two points:

1) Why do you want to replace Neil? IMO he's done a very good job.

2) How much of an enforcer does the team actually need? In my estimation an enforcer is only neccessary evry few games or so. It would require Giroux to bulk up about 30 pounds or so, but that shouldn't be out of the question.

Two points:

1) Why do you want to replace Neil? IMO he's done a very good job.

2) How much of an enforcer does the team actually need? In my estimation an enforcer is only neccessary evry few games or so. It would require Giroux to bulk up about 30 pounds or so, but that shouldn't be out of the question.

I have to disagree about the enforcer's role. An enforcer is only called upon to fight every few games or so, but their role is present in every game. When you don't have that presence in the line-up, that's when liberties are taken, and problems start. Not to mention that you can't predict what games will require the services of an enforcer.

And clearly, if Giroux were to add 30lbs, then yes - he might become a viable enforcer option. But if you added 30lbs to his frame, would he have the same puck abilities? I would seriously question that. No, I see a lot of potential in Giroux's game, and there's no reason to interfere with that. A goal-scoring 3-position forward with a lot of jam and the willingness to drop the gloves when necessary is a pretty solid asset on its own. I think the team should develop that and see where it goes.

As for Neil, on paper he's an excellent enforcer - good puck skills for a fighter, will usually go with most people, and isn't an overt defensive liability. The only thing that bugs me about him is that he's often prone to very classless conduct on the ice, especially in terms of fighting people who aren't fighters. Because of the overt potential for injury, I don't like classless fighters, and Neil's developing a bad reputation. It's the same reason why I loathe Donald Brashear.

That being said, he's affordable, effective, and seems to be picking his spots better (or at least starting to). And for the above reasons that I listed, I'll admit that he's hard to replace because he is pretty effective. I've long been interested in seeing Laraque come over, but I know you can't always get what's on the wish list.

I have to disagree about the enforcer's role. An enforcer is only called upon to fight every few games or so, but their role is present in every game. When you don't have that presence in the line-up, that's when liberties are taken, and problems start. Not to mention that you can't predict what games will require the services of an enforcer.

And clearly, if Giroux were to add 30lbs, then yes - he might become a viable enforcer option. But if you added 30lbs to his frame, would he have the same puck abilities? I would seriously question that. No, I see a lot of potential in Giroux's game, and there's no reason to interfere with that. A goal-scoring 3-position forward with a lot of jam and the willingness to drop the gloves when necessary is a pretty solid asset on its own. I think the team should develop that and see where it goes.

As for Neil, on paper he's an excellent enforcer - good puck skills for a fighter, will usually go with most people, and isn't an overt defensive liability. The only thing that bugs me about him is that he's often prone to very classless conduct on the ice, especially in terms of fighting people who aren't fighters. Because of the overt potential for injury, I don't like classless fighters, and Neil's developing a bad reputation. It's the same reason why I loathe Donald Brashear.

That being said, he's affordable, effective, and seems to be picking his spots better (or at least starting to). And for the above reasons that I listed, I'll admit that he's hard to replace because he is pretty effective. I've long been interested in seeing Laraque come over, but I know you can't always get what's on the wish list.

I would also enjoy having Laraques, but mostly because this team could use some black attitude. :) (please don't accuse me of racism anyone). He would really wear down the opposing defenses. Heck I'd throw him on a line with Spezza/Bonk and Hossa to see how other teams handle all that muscle.

The problem is that Giroux has almost no shot of cracking the lineup as a 4th liner unless he becomes a defensive force - which doesn't seem likely. What are the odds of him making it based on offensive play? Keep in mind that he's struggled to score at the AHL level. Seems to me if he does a Hossa style training and puts on 30 pounds that might be his only real shot at making the lineup. Putting on 30 pounds won't neccesarily affect his puck skills that much - even if it does he should still be better than chris neil - not to mention bigger. Given the excellent training staff the sens have Giroux should be able to bulk up without any major adverse affects.

As for the intimidation factor - all you need is someone willing to fight. I don't think anyone says - "oh no! I'm going to have to fight chris neil". The point being that Giroux wouldn't have huge shoes to fill as a fighter if he were replacing chris neil. Laraques is intimidating. Hmm, maybe I'll toss a Laraques proposal on the trade board.

I don't know much about Chris Neil's class or his reputation so I can't comment on that. All I can say is that I like what I see of him as a hckey player.

I don't know much about Chris Neil's class or his reputation so I can't comment on that. All I can say is that I like what I see of him as a hckey player.

I don't think Chris Neil is feared as a figher in the league, but he is willing to go, which is important in and of itself. However, the comment that you make about him being a hockey player is where his value comes in for Ottawa.

Jacques cannot stand players that don't hold their own defensively. Chris Neil does, which is why he gets playing time. He's also smart enough to know when to take penalties, and when not to. These are the reasons why Andre Roy didn't work out here, even though he was a more fierce fighter. Neil has the respect of the coaching staff here (even with his little outburst during the playoffs), and that's why he's an appropriate guy for the role. I wouldn't mind Laraque either, as he is also a guy that can earn his minutes, but I think it would take a decent roster player to get him to Ottawa, and I'm not willing to give that up for him right now.

As for Giroux, I wouldn't count on him making the big leagues eventually, but you have to admire is persistence. He's been very good at showing his versatility, and I have a feeling he'll improve defensively this year, knowing that that's the only way he'll get a call-up on this very deep roster.

I don't think Chris Neil is feared as a figher in the league, but he is willing to go, which is important in and of itself. However, the comment that you make about him being a hockey player is where his value comes in for Ottawa.

Jacques cannot stand players that don't hold their own defensively. Chris Neil does, which is why he gets playing time. He's also smart enough to know when to take penalties, and when not to. These are the reasons why Andre Roy didn't work out here, even though he was a more fierce fighter. Neil has the respect of the coaching staff here (even with his little outburst during the playoffs), and that's why he's an appropriate guy for the role. I wouldn't mind Laraque either, as he is also a guy that can earn his minutes, but I think it would take a decent roster player to get him to Ottawa, and I'm not willing to give that up for him right now.

As for Giroux, I would count on him making the big leagues eventually, but you have to admire is persistence. He's been very good at showing his versatility, and I have a feeling he'll improve defensively this year, knowing that that's the only way he'll get a call-up on this very deep roster.

I was thinking along the lines of a Schaefer, Neil + Kaigorodov/Prusek. Neil isn't a huge downgrade, and Kaigorodov is the type of prospect who fits perfectly in edmonton's system. Its overpaying - but it could put the team over the top.

I was thinking along the lines of a Schaefer, Neil + Kaigorodov/Prusek. Neil isn't a huge downgrade, and Kaigorodov is the type of prospect who fits perfectly in edmonton's system. Its overpaying - but it could put the team over the top.

Yikes... I don't want Laraque that badly - especially given that he's older and already significantly more expensive than Neil.

Not to mention that I'd have to change my avatar... something I really hope I don't have to be doing anytime soon.

Couple of comments:

I was first impressed with Giroux this summer at the Sens development camp held in Kanata. He was clearly one of the better players in the roster, alongside guys like Vermette (albeit it was, what, his fourth camp?). He looks like he's got good jump to his game, good work ethic, but for some reason I question his hockey sense as a whole. I'm likely nitpicking, but from what I've seen of him playing, which is not much, I can find little hints of poor decision making. Just an observation, and it's quite feasible to say that I'm spoiled by watching guys like Hossa, Bonk, Alfie et al. all year long. Regardless, I think suggesting that this guy could just "throw on" 30 lbs is out of question. It seems as though he's had a weight issue for years, and I don't think the organization will have a magic epiphany and have him work on his weight, needless to say 30 lbs worth! He definitely won't be cracking Ottawas lineup any time soon, what with the talent oozing out at every end, and a cheap, effective Chris Neil doing the plumbing. Worst case scenario, Giroux plays a quality role in Bingo, providing leadership with, if nothing else, the work ethic he has shown so far; Best case scenario, he provides an efficient alternative/bait in a trade to a team looking to add depth. Seems to me in either situation Giroux is the type of guy who exemplifies the type of incredible depth in this Ottawa club.

Re: George Laraques. Anybody from the old sportsnet forums? I was the one who couldn't shut up about the George Laraques proposals. He is someone who would bring more intimidation than you could imagine. It's no joke that he's seen as the strongest guy in the league - nobody can hit him off the puck. It also goes without saying that he is in a league of his own as far as heavyweights go. I don't think anyone would want to get chippy with our stars if they know that big 'ol George will come head hunting. That said, he seems to always chip in a goal at the right time, he can definitely play under pressure. You're looking at a huge Laraques fan here.

Keep in mind guys that he only has one point in 3 games during the preseason. He's still a long-shot to make the NHL, let alone the Sens.

In today's Ottawa Citizen article on last nights 3-2 victory over the evil Leafs, Allen Panzeri mistakenly implies the Giroux might be claimed on Waivers:

Giroux makes roster claim (http://www.canada.com/ottawa/sports/story.asp?id=87C27146-CE2F-4B19-9304-BDBA7235D4A1)

From this online article:

Besides Giroux, the Senators are going to have to worry about losing players such as Dan Corso, Denis Hamel, Josh Langfeld, and Serge Payer in tomorrow's waiver draft.

It does look like they attempted to fix the mistake between the early edition and the online edition. From the online:

First, Giroux.

He had a goal last night in Ottawa's 3-2 victory over the Maple Leafs.

Now in his third professional season, the 22-year-old former Hull Olympique looks as if he's figured it out.

From the early print edition:

First, Giroux.

He had a goal last night in Ottawa's 3-2 victory over the Maple Leafs, and the Senators are hoping he survives tomorrow's waiver draft.

Now in his third professional season, the 22-year-old former Hull Olympique looks as if he's figured it out.

I added the bold for visibility.

So please note the Senators cannot lose Giroux on waivers this year. Garrioch has sent an emergency box of donuts over to the Citizen to help them.