GIROUX ASSIGNED BACK TO FALCONS

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned forward Alexandre Giroux to the Springfield Falcons, Columbus’ American Hockey League affiliate, Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Scott Howson announced today.

Giroux, 30, scored one goal and had eight penalty minutes in nine games with Columbus after making his Blue Jackets debut at Dallas on October 15. He has tallied one goal and one assist in two games with Springfield this season. In 48 career NHL games with Columbus, Edmonton, Washington and the New York Rangers, he has recorded 6-6-12 and 26 penalty minutes during his 10-year pro career, including 1-1-2 and two penalty minutes in eight games with the Oilers in 2010-11. He added 32-46-78 and 63 penalty minutes in 70 games with Oklahoma City, Edmonton’s AHL affiliate, last season. Ottawa’s seventh pick, 213th overall, in the 1999 Entry Draft, he has 340-310-650, 837 penalty minutes and a cumulative +143 plus/minus rating in 706 career AHL games.

In 2008-09, Giroux (pronounced gih-ROO) notched 60-37-97 and 84 penalty minutes in 69 games, led the Hershey Bears to the AHL’s Calder Cup championship and was named the AHL’s Most Valuable Player. In 2009-10, he collected a career-high 50-53-103 and 34 penalty minutes in 69 games as the Bears won their second-straight Calder Cup. He has scored 30 or more goals in seven-straight AHL seasons and appeared in several AHL All-Star Games, including each of the past three years. The Quebec City, Quebec native also registered 111-115-226, 359 penalty minutes and was +44 in 202 career Quebec Major Junior Hockey League games with Hull and Rouyn-Noranda from 1998-01.