Claude Giroux Concussion: 4 Reasons the Flyers Could Be in Serious Trouble

Claude Giroux has a concussion, and things are starting to get interesting in Pennsylvania. It is not a great time to be a superstar in the state of Pennsylvania, as both Giroux and Sidney Crosby are out for the immediate future.

The loss of Chris Pronger and now Giroux does not bode well for the current Atlantic Division leader. Here are four major reasons why the Flyers are in serious trouble if Giroux is out for the long haul.

1. There Is No Telling How Long Giroux Could Be Sidelined

It is bad that Giroux has a concussion, but what is terrifying is the fact that the NHL has seen the effects, recovery time and limitations associated with concussions.

David Perron has just returned after a year of inactivity. Sidney Crosby is sidelined again despite taking 10 months off to recover. Marc Staal just started skating with the New York Rangers again, and Marc Savard continues to sit on the sidelines.

Under no circumstances will the Flyers rush Giroux. They arguably messed up once before when dealing with another young star in Eric Lindros, so they won't make the same mistake twice.

For those who dont know, Lindros was almost put on a plane after sustaining a concussion. Had Keith Jones not spoken up, chances are Lindros would be dead.

Lindros has been a strong advocate for implementing more precautions, and you can read about that in this article.

Nonetheless, teams are taking more caution with head trauma and concussions these days.

With Giroux out of the lineup, the Flyers lose a huge offensive punch.

2. New York Rangers Are Coming on Strong

The New York Rangers sit one point out of first place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 17-6-4 with 38 points. The Flyers are 18-7-3 with 39 points, but it has taken one extra games to gain that extra one point.

The Rangers have been white hot as of late and could take sole possession of first place tonight with a win over the Dallas Stars. The Rangers are winning game after game due to the excellent goaltending of Henrik Lundqvist and the offensive production of Marian Gaborik, Brad Richards, Derek Stepan, Ryan Callahan and Artem Anisimov.

The Rangers are off to their best start through 27 games since the 1993-94 season. If the Rangers can continue their dominating play, the Flyers hope of a division title could fall out of grasp with Giroux sidelined.

3. Can the Secondary Scoring Step Up in Giroux's Absence?

The Flyers are an offensive-minded team. Besides Giroux, the Flyers have future Hall-of-Fame winger Jaromir Jagr, Scott Hartnell and Danny Briere leading the team in scoring.

Despite his age, Jagr has had a great start to season barring a minor groin injury. Jagr has been a point per game player with 10 goals and 14 assists through 24 games played.

However, is it logical to say that Jagr has benefited from playing on a line with Giroux?

Can Danny Briere carry the team and rekindle the dominance he had in Buffalo? Briere is a very talented player and could be huge for the Flyers.

It goes without saying that Jagr and Briere will be looked upon as the veteras to carry the team.

Jagr is a future Hall-of-Fame winger, but I don't think he can still put a team on his back. Also, what is to say that the exhaustion of an NHL schedule won't wear on Jagr and his groin?

The loss of Giroux may also put more focus on these secondary players, which could limit their production.

If players like Jakub Voracek and James Van Riemsdyk can elevate their game, Philadelphia shouldn't have a problem. However, this remains to be seen.

Philadelphia has a lot of moving parts, but no one that can replicate the presence that Giroux brings on the ice.

4. Goaltending Situation

Wasn't this area supposed to be addressed this offseason? Apparently, things have panned out as Paul Holmgren visualized it.

For a free agent that signed a nine-year, $51 million dollar contract, a 13-5-4 record with a 2.84 GAA and .897 save percentage is very lackluster.

The win total are very deceiving due to the Flyers and their ability to score a lot of goals, but the other statistics say a lot about Bryzgalov as a goaltender.

To make matter worse, Bryzgalov left during the Flyers' last game with a lower-body injury. If he is injured, that means Sergei Bobrovosky will take over the starting job.

"Bob's" stat line isn't a whole lot better, either. He is 5-2-1 with a 2.75 GAA and a .906 save percentage. For an elite team like the Flyers, they really need these numbers to improve. 

It is going to be hard to compete in a goaltending matchup with other Eastern teams like the Bruins, Rangers, Penguins and Sabres.

Things are starting to look dire in Philadelphia, so I would expect Paul Holmgren to make some moves in the neer future.

Tom Urtz is an NHL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.