VOORHEES, N.J. -- Claude Giroux doesn't consider there to be any added pressure despite the fact Mike Richards and Jeff Carter -- two of the team's offensive staples -- were traded in the offseason.
"There's not a lot of pressure, but more excitement and a challenge and there's a lot of ice time to be taken," Giroux said following the opening day of training camp at the Virtua Flyers Skate Zone.
"When you see something like that, it kind of makes you push more and play harder and better. Guys are pretty excited for the preseason games. We have a lot of new players and Mike and Jeff are gone, but there's another spot open for ice time and power-play time. The young guys have a chance, so it's an opportunity."
Giroux, who led the Flyers with eight power-play goals, 51 assists and 76 points last season, centered a line with 39-year-old right wing Jaromir Jagr and left wing James van Riemsdyk on the opening day of training camp on Saturday.
"When I was a kid, I looked up to (Jagr) because he was obviously one of the best young players to ever play," Giroux said. "So, anytime you have a guy like that on your line, it's pretty exciting. He's that kind of player who knows how to score goals and is always in good position to get open. He's been in the league for a long time, so anytime you have a player like that on your line it's good. I'll be playing with JVR too, so I was playing with two strong guys."
Only time will tell if the JVR-Giroux-Jagr line remains intact throughout training camp since coach Peter Laviolette has stressed that no line is safe at this stage in the preseason.