Fantasy faceoff: Claude Giroux vs. Jeff Carter

All offseason long, NHL.com will cover all the angles leading up to your fantasy hockey draft. For some of the most compelling debates, our fantasy writers will compare two players at a given position in the same projected draft range, according to NHL.com's top 250 rankings.
Value is quantified based on factors including (but not limited to) line combinations, power-play usage, team goalie situations, injury history, bounce-back, breakout or sleeper potential, possible regression and age. Once each writer has made his argument, fans can cast their votes in our @NHLFantasy Twitter poll.
Today, we compare centers Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers and Jeff Carter of the Los Angeles Kings:

NOTE:Standard Yahoo categories include goals, assists, plus/minus, penalty minutes, power-play points and shots on goal for skaters, and wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts for goalies.
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PETE JENSEN: Giroux and the Flyers were in good shape this past December; he had 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in his first 32 games, and Philadelphia was riding a 10-game winning streak. But it all came crashing down in the ensuing months, and Giroux's fantasy stock has tumbled as a result.
He was limited to 28 points (five goals, 23 assists) and was minus-16 in his final 50 games with an abnormally low shooting percentage (4.3 in span; 10.6 in NHL career). Giroux, 29, played all 82 games, but his points-per-game average (0.71) dipped for the third straight season, largely because of his low even-strength point total (26). Giroux's struggles were linked to his recovery from surgery in May 2016 to repair a torn labrum in his right hip and bilateral abdominal tears.
That said, this could be a rare chance to draft Giroux outside the top 50 overall in standard leagues; he was drafted on average inside the top 20 overall last season but should be available much later this year. Even with all the doom and gloom, Giroux was among the League leaders in power-play points (31, 4th in NHL) and assists (44, T-20th) with respectable point (58) and shot totals (199) to finish 64th overall in Yahoo. He plays with Jakub Voracek and/or Wayne Simmonds at even strength, and is a fixture on the first power-play unit with those fantasy-relevant wings and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. Giroux's support system looks to be improving as well; the Flyers selected center Nolan Patrick with the second pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, signed goaltender Brian Elliott on July 1, and have a number of strong defense prospects in their system.
Carter is a much better goal-scorer and a near lock to finish among the top 75 overall, but Giroux has the higher overall fantasy ceiling based on his track record and bounce-back appeal. He's three years younger than Carter, has better wings around him, and could benefit immensely from a full offseason to get back to full strength. Even after a down season, Giroux (501 points) ranks fourth in NHL scoring behind Patrick Kane (522), Sidney Crosby (521) and Alex Ovechkin (506) since 2010-11.

DAVID SATRIANO: Carter has been one of the most consistent and underrated fantasy forwards the past four seasons. He led the Kings in goals (32), points (66) and PPP (22). He also had a high shot total (250 SOG, 18th in NHL) and 41 penalty minutes, more than doubling his 2015-16 total (20). Even with his worst rating (plus-2) in a full season since 2011-12, his strong category coverage helped him finish among the top 25 overall players after being drafted on average with the 131st pick in Yahoo.
The 32-year-old didn't miss a game last season and has missed 15 games the past five seasons combined. He's had double-digit PPP in each of the past five seasons and has taken at least 200 SOG in each of the past four. Carter has also scored at least 20 goals in 10 straight seasons, including 26 (fourth in NHL) in 48 games during the shortened 2012-13 season.
Los Angeles had a weak offense last season (199 goals, T-24th in NHL), but Carter scored 16 percent of their goals and had a point on 33 percent of them, proving how safe of a fantasy bet he continues to be. He is a key player on special teams, skating on the first power-play unit. Giroux has declined in goals, assists, points and plus/minus each of the past four seasons, and is coming off his lowest point total in a full season since 2009-10 (47). Giroux may have the name value, but Carter is the better fantasy option.