Agent: Claude Giroux's injury is 'very minor'

• Giroux has been playing for Berlin in Germanys' top league during the lockout
• According to a report in Germany, he went to hospital after hit to head
• He says his neck was injured; agent calls it a 'very minor upper-body injury'

Just about the worst thing that can happen in the NHL's lockout is losing a whole season.

The second-worst thing is a team losing its best player while he's overseas in a country where he doesn't speak the native language.

Luckily for the Philadelphia Flyers, they avoided the latter.

Claude Giroux sustained an injury this week while playing with his German team, the Eisbaren Berlin, as a result of a hit to the head. Giroux's agent, Pat Brisson, tells the (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post it is a "very minor upper-body injury." According to a report, Giroux said it was his neck that was injured.

According to a Google translation of this German article, Giroux was sent to the hospital after a hit in a game against the Krefeld Penguins.

In nine games with Berlin, where Philadelphia's Danny Briere is a teammate, Giroux has four goals and 15 assists.

Dave Isaac also writes for the (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post

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