Flyers Captain Claude Giroux Appears to Embrace Move to Wing

VOORHEES, N.J. - Dave Hakstol brought up the idea on Monday and Claude Giroux appeared to embrace it.

The Flyers' captain switched to left wing during Tuesday's practice on a line with Jakub Voracek at right wing and Sean Couturier in the middle.

"That's funny because I was pretty much a winger all my life," Giroux said. "I started playing center when I became a professional. It's hard to complain when you're playing with Jake and Coots."

"I liked it," Voracek said. "He (Giroux) is a very powerful guy, so he always skates into the space on the ice when there's an opening. I think as a line we've been working pretty good. We understand each other. It's one of the looks Hak might try in the preseason. I wouldn't read too much into it, but I don't know, if it's long term, that means we're playing good." 

Over the years, Giroux has found a comfort zone creating a shot off the left half board, especially off the team's power-play setup, and towards the end of Tuesday's practice, Couturier was feeding Giroux one-timer after one-timer. 

"We did a lot of drills where I was coming down the left side there," Giroux said. "I can see the ice pretty good from there because you have the puck on your good side. It was actually a lot of fun. It's not like I'm against it or I'm not happy with it if it makes the team better. I know we have a lot of centermen. I'm up for the idea for sure."

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The second part of the experiment involves Sean Couturier and whether this type of move could also open up his untapped offensive side. The Flyers' best defensive center, Couturier has consistently scored between 34 and 39 points in each of the past four seasons, but has failed to take the next step to prove he can evolve into a top-six role. Needless to say, the seventh-year center embraced playing with two highly-skilled linemates.

Especially Giroux.

"It's been six years we've been here and we've never really played with each other," Couturier said. "We've kind of played with everyone else but each other. Me and G have some good chemistry. The little odd shifts here and there we'd have together we'd seem to create something and get some scoring chances, so hopefully, we can make this work." 

Giroux grew accustomed to playing right wing when he first entered the NHL under head coaches John Stevens and later Peter Laviolette. With Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Danny Briere occupying the center spots, Giroux still found a way to thrive offensively as he scored 76 points to lead the Flyers in 2010-11, while also taking the second-most faceoffs on the team that season.  

"I think breakouts, when you're on the right side for me, it's easier to handle the puck and kind of chip it out and make a play, but offensively on the left side it's a lot better," Giroux said. "When you come into the zone you got Coots going to the net and Jake on the weak side, I think it's pretty exciting when you see that." 

The decision to switch Giroux to wing also comes two days after Nolan Patrick turned in a solid effort in his preseason debut against the Islanders. If Patrick, who turned 19 years old on Tuesday, is to make the opening night roster in San Jose, California, it's expected Hakstol will be forced to make some adjustments and rearrange some of his veterans up and down the lineup. So far in camp, Patrick, Valtteri Filppula, Couturier and Scott Laughton are the only ones who have not moved from their center positions.   

"I wouldn't connect the dots to that (Patrick making the team) quite yet," Hakstol said. "I think that's too early of a connection to make. I think it's obvious that we have a number of players that are good centermen. Jori Lehtera has jumped over to the left side for the first few practices and the first preseason game. Today, this gave us an opportunity to have Jori back up the middle, so no, I wouldn't draw the connection directly towards Nolan Patrick at this point in time." 

Giroux would not be the first established veteran to transition from center to wing later in his career, as the Flyers' captain mentioned Sharks forwards Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton, two established centers who have also transitioned to the wing over the past few years in San Jose.

"They take faceoffs on their strong side and it's tough when you take faceoffs all game against the guy who's on his strong side. It's tough," Giroux said. "Maybe I'm not going to play one more shift on the wing, but that's up to the coach, but I really liked it today."  

We'll see if the next experimental phase comes during Wednesday's split-squad exhibition against the Islanders. With Hakstol coaching the team in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he would probably want to see firsthand how that line operates.

Health check
Wayne Simmonds missed his second straight day of practice Tuesday, suggesting that Monday's absence was more than what Hakstol has termed "a maintenance day." Players are rarely given days off during camp, but the Flyers would not elaborate any further regarding Simmonds' status. A team spokesperson said Simmonds is scheduled to skate with the team Wednesday morning, however, it's not known whether he will play in one of the Flyers' split-squad games against the Islanders.

On the blue line
Sam Morin and Robert Hagg, the Flyers' top-two picks from the 2013 draft class, appear to have separated themselves even further from their fellow rookie prospects. Travis Sanheim was moved to the afternoon group and AHL veteran T.J. Brennan was brought over to the morning practice with the NHL regulars. 

"It was nice to play with these guys at a little bit higher pace," Brennan said. "Who knows what they're thinking, but I'm just trying to give them the best I got and hopefully they get a good impression."

Coming off an All-Star season with the Phantoms in 2016-17, the Willingboro, New Jersey, native and lifelong Flyers fan hasn't played in the NHL since suiting up with the Toronto Maple Leafs in April 2016. 

"I've just learned to focus that energy in different spots," Brennan said. "This time a year ago there was a little more anxiety involved. Now I think throughout the entire organization they have an idea of who I am, how I play and maybe how I can fit in."  

Lines and pairings
Forwards
Claude Giroux-Sean Couturier-Jakub Voracek
Oskar Lindblom-Nolan Patrick-Travis Konecny
Jordan Weal-Valtteri Filppula-Dale Weise
Michael Raffl-Jori Lehtera-Matt Read
Colin McDonald-Scott Laughton-Taylor Leier

Defensemen
Ivan Provorov-Andrew MacDonald
Shayne Gostisbehere-Robert Hagg
Sam Morin-T.J. Brennan
Brandon Manning-Radko Gudas

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