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Old-school Giroux keeps his distance from opponents

Boston Bruins v Philadelphia Flyers - Game One

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 30: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against David Krejci #46 of the Boston Bruins in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 30, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bruins defeated the Flyers 7-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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When NHL players are signed up for the Player Media Tour, it’s understood that they’ll be shuffled around between EA Sports for video games, NBC for promotional shoots, the NHL store in New York City, and anything else the league can dream up over the two day press event. Throughout their time in the greater New York City area, the players end up spending quite a bit of time with some of their fiercest rivals over the course of the season. It used to be taboo for opponents to openly fraternize outside of the rink—but times have changed. Different players from different teams all over the league see each other at international tournaments, charity events, and even league events like the Player Media Tour.

Not everyone is OK with the changes.

Philadelphia Flyers star Claude Giroux is one of the guys who is making the rounds this week. Unlike most guys who are excited about the opportunity to meet some of the various stars from around the league, Giroux would rather keep the relationships professional. Giroux talked to Adam Kimelman at NHL.com about the opportunity to hang out with some opponents:

“It’s kind of cool, but at the same time I play against them and don’t really like all of them. I guess it’s part of the game, you have to go with it. I think when you’re on the ice you’re not there to make friends.”

The former first round pick had a breakout season last year as he put up 25 goals and 76 points for the Flyers. His maturation – as well as the maturation of fellow Media Tour attendee James van Riemsdyk – allowed Philadelphia GM Paul Holmgren to move productive forwards Mike Richards and Jeff Carter over the offseason. He’ll be expected to carry the load at the center position with Daniel Briere if the Flyers want an encore of their 2010 Stanley Cup Final appearance.

This should be a fun season to watch Giroux’s progression. Throughout his entire career, he’s been able to answer questions about his size and/or youth by producing at every level. He scored 100+ three separate times for Gatineau in the QMJHL—in the NHL he played well enough for the Flyers to experiment with Carter and Briere on the wing. He’s always thrived no matter what the challenge has been.

This season, he’ll look to prove that he can produce while facing the best defensemen the opposition can throw at him. No longer does he have the likes of Carter and Richards to take the tough minutes. This season, opposition coaches will look to get the match-ups they want by putting their best defensemen against Giroux’s line on a nightly basis.

He’s consistently proven that he’s up for any challenge—but this will be the biggest challenge of his career.

From a fan’s point of view, it’s respectable to hear that a player takes the rivalries as seriously as the paying customers. These guys spend nine months per season desperately striving for the same goal—not everyone can just shut it off at the end of the season. Giroux’s comments today show that he’s the type of player that takes the bitter rivalries on the ice seriously.

What about you? Are you OK with players from different team befriending one another in the offseason? Or do you wish things would go back to how they used to be when opponents were enemies 12 months per year? Let us know what you think in the comments!