Some hockey news for a hot August day. The Capitals have re-signed minor-leaguer Alexandre Giroux. Why is that important? Well, Giroux was no ordinary minor leaguer last season. He scored a record 75 goals in 91 games – combined regular season and playoffs – and helped the Hershey Bears, Washington’s top minor-league affiliate, win the Calder Cup championship.
That combined goal total is a record for the American Hockey League – one step below the NHL and widely considered the second-best pro hockey league in the world. Giroux also set an AHL record during the regular season with a 15-game goal-scoring streak.
At 28, Giroux is no longer considered a prospect. But his presence does give the Caps depth if injuries strike next season. The contract is a one-year deal that would pay Giroux $500,000 if he is recalled to the NHL. He did play in 12 games with Washington last season. But Giroux struggled to translate that scoring touch to the NHL. He had just one goal and one assist and seemed snakebit on a half-dozen breakaway attempts.
Meanwhile, the Caps announced another minor change. The spelling of rookie goalie Simeon Varlamov – the team’s postseason hero – will now be Semyon Varlamov. That’s closer to how the 21-year-old Russian pronounces his first name phonetically. If his strong playoff performance is any indication, get used to saying it. He’ll be around for a while.
