Claude Giroux 'bored' with lockout, seems to be thinking about Europe

Claude Giroux is sick of sitting around.

Speaking in Ottawa today, where he's spent the last several weeks skating and training near family and friends, the Best Player In The World™ expressed impatience with the ongoing NHL lockout, doubt that it will end any time soon and reluctance about waiting it out while other players remain in game shape over in Europe.

Via the Ottawa Sun:

"I'm getting a little bored here just working out," said the 24-year-old Giroux, who has risen to elite status as a winger with the Philadelphia Flyers. "I kind of want to play games ... get that rush of playing in hockey games.

"I want to make sure I'm in good shape, so I think it's a good option for me to go and play somewhere. I'm talking to my agent to see where I could go. I want to play some good, quality hockey."

The only place G is going to find some "good, quality hockey" is over in Europe. The KHL is probably the best league in the world right now with the NHL gone dark, but Claude did express skepticism earlier this summer about playing in Russia.

The Swiss league seems to be the next-best option for North American-born NHL players looking for homes during the lockout. Rick Nash, Joe Thornton and Tyler Seguin are just a few of the guys who have signed with Swiss league teams since the lockout began on Sept. 15.

There's no real indication of what Giroux will do, but it seems nearly likely at this point that he'll decide to take the plunge and play in Europe until the lockout ends.