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Philadelphia Flyers: Mid-Season Report Card

By Marc Naples

Jan 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) and goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) celebrate win against the Montreal Canadiens at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Canadiens, 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) and goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) celebrate win against the Montreal Canadiens at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Canadiens, 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 7, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux (28) carries the puck during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux (28) carries the puck during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Giroux Line Grades

philadelphia flyers
philadelphia flyers /

Claude Giroux – C+

The good news is that the team captain leads the team in points and is one of the better Corsi rated forwards.  He’s also an all-star.  The bad news is that he is one of the worst plus/minus forwards on the team and his 5v5 point production is way down from his usual standards.  In 5 of the last 7 seasons Giroux’s 5v5 points/60 has been 1.98 or higher.  He is nowhere close thus far this season.  He is currently on pace for ~60 points, which would be his worst season since 2009-10 when he was 22 and scored 47 points.  His Corsi-for rate is also the lowest it’s been since 2009-10.  He has to be better for the Flyers to have a chance in the second half.

Jakub Voracek – C+

After a career year last year with 81 points in 82 games, Voracek is on pace for barely 50 points this season.  Furthermore, his 5v5 points rate of 1.18 is way below his previous career worst of 1.87 in his last season in Columbus.  Saving him from an even lower grade, however, is that his Corsi rate is only marginally lower than his normal numbers the last 5 seasons.  The problem is that his shooting percentage is about 1/3 what he usually shoots at, and his teammates are shooting a few percentage points lower than usual when he’s on the ice.  There is good cause to believe his numbers will bounce back in the second half, which the Flyers desperately need.

Wayne Simmonds – B

Simmonds has been on the cusp of 30 goals the last few seasons, but he’ll need to pick up his scoring to get close to that this season.  He also won’t be happy with a team worst -11, but the advanced Corsi stats show Simmonds is playing as well as ever.  He also earned the appreciation of his teammates by sticking up for them in fights even if it’s earned him two misconducts for instigating.  Much of his stats decline can be attributed to the Flyers struggling power play.  He is on pace for only 8 power play goals this season, down from 15 and 14 he scored the previous two seasons.

Next: Couturier Line Grades

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