Flyers' Giroux on Hakstol: 'I had no idea who he was'
Claude Giroux admitted that he initially drew a blank when informed that Dave Hakstol was named the new coach of the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this summer.
So, the captain elected to do his homework by jumping on the computer for a little research on the man who became the 19th coach in franchise history.
"I had no idea who he was. So right away, I had to do some searching on the Internet," Giroux told the team's website of the 47-year-old Hakstol, who spent the last 11 seasons coaching collegiate powerhouse North Dakota.
"... After I met him, I was really excited and pumped to get the season started because of the way he sees the game and how humble he is. Most coaches would come into the NHL and say they know it all. But he told me that, 'I’m going to learn, too, and that we going to be in this together.'"
Giroux and Hakstol will begin that process on Sept. 17, when veterans are expected to report to training camp.
While Hakstol has reached the Frozen Four on seven occasions, Giroux saw the Flyers (33-31-18) end up out of the playoffs last season following a sixth-place finish in the Metropolitan Division.
Giroux finished the campaign by scoring 25 goals to reside three behind Wayne Simmonds for the team lead and three shy of his career high, set in both the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons.
The 27-year-old Ontario native, who also had 48 assists in 81 games in 2014-15, has scored 144 goals and set up 306 others in 496 career contests - all with Philadelphia.
(h/t Philadelphia Flyers)
.@NHLFlyers coach Dave Hakstol working with youngsters at a Snider Hockey clinic Thurs. in Philly. pic.twitter.com/FrL16XsT0o
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) August 13, 2015
