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Prolific AHL goal scorer will get his chance with Columbus

Rick Nash, Anton Stralman, Jared Boll, Derek MacKenzie, Jan Hejda

Columbus Blue Jackets’ Rick Nash, second from left at rear, celebrates scoring his goal with teammates Anton Stralman, left, Jared Boll (40), Derek MacKenzie (24) and Jan Hejda (35) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011. The Blue Jackets won 2-1. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

AP

Alexandre Giroux has found a niche for himself as one of the AHL’s greatest scorers. He’s had to, because despite the fact that he scored 60 goals in 69 AHL games in 2008-09, he hasn’t been able to hold down a job in the NHL. Giroux is 30 now and he’s only played in 39 NHL games and, for the most part, he hasn’t gotten much ice time during his brief stints with the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, and Edmonton Oilers.

That might change on Saturday as the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets have called up Giroux with the intention of using him on their second line against the Dallas Stars. Along with Antoine Vermette and R.J. Umberger, the trio will try to provide the Blue Jackets with some secondary scoring behind the very effective Vinny Prospal, Jeff Carter, and Rick Nash line.

Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel certainly sounded like a man who believes in Giroux when he talked to the Columbus Dispatch:

Having that size on the wing is going to probably help us. It’s going to help us around the net. Alex doesn’t need many chances to score goals. He’s proven that.

At the AHL level, yes, but he still needs to prove that he can find ways to score against NHL caliber defenses and goaltenders. Still, the Blue Jackets need to shake things up a little after getting off to a 0-3-1 start and maybe Giroux will take advantage of what could be his last good chance to stay in the NHL.