NOTEBOOK: Giroux getting comfortable with Cats

In today's Baptist Health Practice Notebook, Claude Giroux is starting to settle into his role with the Panthers, Zac Dalpe reaches a nice milestone in the AHL, and a look at Monday's lines.
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. - Claude Giroux is starting to feel pretty cozy.
"When you go to a team new team, I feel like every day there's something new to learn or to know," he said following Monday's practice at the Panthers IceDen. "It's been a pretty good transition. Obviously the coaches and players help a lot with that, but it's been pretty smooth."
Just like his transition to South Florida, his play on the ice has also been silky smooth.

Making an immediate impact after being acquired by the Panthers in a pre-deadline trade with the Flyers on March 19, Giroux has been producing at better than a point-per-game pace in the weeks since the deal went down, racking up 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 10 contests.
Spending most of his time with Jonathan Huberdeau and Sam Bennett, that loaded line has produced a 52.70 CF%, 64.71 HDCF% and a 66.67 GF% at 5-on-5, per NaturalStatTrick.com.
With more on-ice reps, Giroux expects his chemistry with those two to continue to grow.
"I think we can still find more chemistry, but we've been working hard together to find the chemistry that we want to have," he said. "The three of us, I think every game we're taking a step forward. We just have to keep working at it."
Beyond his work at even-strength, Giroux has also added some punch to the power play.
With Panthers trying out a five-forward approach to the man advantage ever since his arrival, the top unit of Giroux, Huberdeau, Anthony Duclair, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart has been seemingly getting better each and every game they've spent together on special teams.
Operating at a 25.7% success rate since Giroux's debut, the Panthers have gone 9-for-35 with the extra attacker in that 10-game stretch. Having a hand in six of those goals, Giroux ranks second on the team with six points (one goal, five assists) on the power play in those games.
Even though he's suited up in more than 1,000 games over parts of 15 seasons in the NHL, the five-forward approach on the man advantage is actually something new and exciting for Giroux.
"It's fun," he said with a smile. "I've never done [five forwards] before. We're trying to just kind of feel each other out. I think we can get more opportunities to get pucks on net and get more chances on one power play. We're getting a feel for it and getting chemistry with all five guys."

But even with that production on offense, Giroux's greatest value might be in the faceoff dot.
Seemingly winning every key draw that he takes late in games, Giroux, who was one of the top faceoff guys in the league prior to being traded, has won 55.8% of his draws since joining the Cats.
Putting that skill to use on both sides of special teams, his ability to win timely faceoffs has led to more zone time on the power play and quelled opponent's attacks while on the penalty kill.
"It's such a nice luxury to have," Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette said. "It's a fun toy to have as a coach. He's so competitive. Late in games, and you saw in the New Jersey game when we came back, he gives us an opportunity [with his faceoff wins] late in games."
While the team hasn't had many off days since his arrival, Giroux has found some time to adjust to his new surroundings off the ice as well, including spending Sunday at the beach with his family.
"It was great," he said of the family outing in the sun. "Any time you get a day off to get your mind off it and kind of recharge it's always great. But we're back at it and ready to go tomorrow."
Going for his fourth multi-point performance in the last five games, Giroux and the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers (51-15-6) will welcome the Ducks to FLA Live Arena on Tuesday.

DALPE CELBRATES SIX HUNDRED

In a bit of non-NHL news, Zac Dalpe reached a nice milestone in the AHL on Sunday.
By taking the ice against the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Checkers captain appeared in the 600th professional hockey game of his career. Of those games, 154 have come in the NHL, including a call-up earlier this season in which he suited up for the Panthers in Boston back on Oct. 30.

"He's kind of molded into that veteran leader," Brunette said of Dalpe, who he coached in Minnesota during the 2015-16 season. "He's helped so many young players in his career."
To see Dalpe's impact, look no further than social media.
Following his 600th game, many of his Checkers teammates - including Cats prospects Logan Hutsko and Cole Schwindt - shared their adoration for their captain with posts on Instagram.
"Still in his prime too," Schwindt said.
Playing a key role in helping the Checkers punch their ticket to the playoffs, Dalpe, who inked a two-year, two-way contract with the Panthers in July, leads the team with 28 goals in 63 games.
"You want him around your young prospects so they can see how to be a pro, how to handle yourself, how to show up every day," Brunette said. "He's a nice luxury to have down there."

MAINTENANCE DAY

Jonathan Huberdeau took a maintenance day and missed this morning's practice.
In his place, Maxim Mamin skated on the left side of the second line during rushes.
Second in the NHL in scoring, Huberdeau has tallied a career-high and franchise-record 104 points (27 goals, 77 assists) in 72 games.

MONDAY'S PRACTICE LINES

Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe - Aleksander Barkov - Anthony Duclair
Maxim Mamin - Sam Bennett - Claude Giroux
Mason Marchment - Anton Lundell - Sam Reinhart
Ryan Lomberg - Eetu Luostarinen - Patric Hornqvist
Joe Thornton
Defensemen
Gustav Forsling - MacKenzie Weegar
Ben Chiarot - Radko Gudas
Robert Hagg - Brandon Montour
Lucas Carlsson - Petteri Lindbohm
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Spencer Knight