The thing about context is that it’s really damn important. If I tell you that I have a second head growing out of my rib cage, but you ignore the part where I explain it was for a Halloween costume one year, you’re missing pretty important context, you know?
If Claude Giroux says the Flyers are a playoff team, maybe you should think about the full quote before jumping to conclusions.
CSN’s Neil Hartman: In your mind, is this a playoff hockey club?
Claude Giroux: There’s no doubt. There’s no doubt that we’re a playoff team and we’re going to prove it in the future but right now it’s a little tough that we have a record we have. But at the same time we have a lot of character in our room and guys don’t quit.
OK. A few things.
First, this is hardly a ringing endorsement of the team, especially if you watch the video and see how he’s clearly giving his finest Cliched Athlete Speak. “We’re going to prove it in the future.” I mean, the future is a pretty long time. This is hardly the same as his “We will make the playoffs” declaration from last season — one that came true, remember.
Second, if you’re the captain of the Philadelphia Flyers and you’re being asked by a member of the media — during a charity event at a bowling alley on an off night, by the way — about the playoffs, what are you going to say? I suppose he could give some diplomatic “we have a long way to go and we’ll try our best” but … come on. That’s not and never has been the kind of guy that Claude Giroux is. He’s always been a player that’s led by example, and part of that has to do with what he says in public. His answer to this question reflects that. You can see in his eyes when he’s talking that
This isn’t really a quote to get all that worked up over. It’s not even close to a guarantee.
