"Could he have made the team? Yeah, he probably could have," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said yesterday. "We thought this was the best thing to do, to send him back. And I think, in hindsight, that it was."

Giroux flourished in another season in juniors, scoring 106 points in 55 games for Gatineau. He played in the Memorial Cup, and he won a gold medal with Canada at the world juniors championship.

He's back in town this week for the Flyers' prospect camp, which is being held at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.

The Flyers' top prospect, Giroux played two games in February for the Flyers last season, and it's almost guaranteed he will see more time at the NHL level this season.

The Flyers' brass debated keeping Giroux with the big club after a spectacular training camp. But Holmgren and his staff decided another year of development would be best.

Giroux seems plenty poised after a busy season.

"I'll be able to prove more this year than last," he said.

The experience of another season in juniors, combined with the international play, has Giroux confident. Holmgren is most proud of the way the undersize winger is filling out.

"He's grown," Holmgren said. "He's a lot bigger than he was two years ago and a little bigger than last year. He's a confident kid."

Giroux is close to 6-foot and weighs about 184 pounds, up from a lean 169 two summers ago.

The two games he played for the Flyers taught Giroux a lesson about his size and style of play.

"I'm not really a big guy, so I'm trying to be faster," he said. "After those two games, I realized I have to be faster if I want a career in the NHL."

Holmgren compares Giroux's style with that of Danny Briere. Both are smaller players with a high hockey IQ that translates to playmaking skills in the offensive zone.

"I think he's fully ready in his own mind to make the jump to the pro level," Holmgren said.

With another year, some strength and added weight under his belt, Giroux agrees.

"I'll be more comfortable than last year," Giroux said. "Last year was like guys I saw only on TV, but now I know them a little bit more. I'm excited."

Stevens wins award. Flyers coach John Stevens was named NHL coach of the year by the Hockey News.

"To me, this is more of an organizational award than a coaching award," Stevens said in a statement. "I think that it's a reflection of all the good things done from [general manager] Paul Holmgren down to the players."

In his first full season as coach, Stevens guided the Flyers to a 42-29-11 record and the Eastern Conference finals.

Loose pucks. Holmgren conducted interviews yesterday for the now vacant assistant coaching position left by Terry Murray, who was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Kings. Holmgren said the position could be filled either internally or from outside the organization. "We're not sure yet," he said. Holmgren said he expected to have a hire in place by early August.

at 215-854-4550 or mgelb@phillynews.com.