If there’s one name to watch at the trade deadline, it’s Claude Giroux.
The Flyers captain is expected to be on the move before the March 21 deadline. He’s in the final year of his eight-year, $66.2 million contract with Philadelphia and with the Flyers not making the playoffs, it’s an opportunity for the Flyers to pick up some strength while Giroux gets a chance to win the Stanley Cup.
The striker can play both center and wing and is excellent at both ends of the rink. Giroux is second on the team in points with 42 in 56 games, showing no signs of slowing down at 34.
Giroux has a full no-trade clause that he will have to waive, so it’s up to him whether or not he wants to be traded. But there is mutual interest and there are plenty of suitors who are highly intrigued by the idea of adding a playmaker like Giroux. It also carries a cap of $8.275 million, which means teams will need to clear space to fit Giroux into the cap restrictions.
He played in the 1,000th NHL game on Thursday, and soon after a deal with the Panthers was reported by Anthony SanFilippo of Crossing Broad be in work. Nothing has resumed since, but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirmed that Florida is in the game, as well as the Avalanche. Giroux will not travel with the team to Ottawa for Friday’s game against the Senators.
Here are some potential suitors for Giroux at the deadline.
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Potential commercial destinations for Claude Giroux
Colorado avalanche
No team has been mentioned more often in connection with Giroux than the Avalanche. He would put a group of forwards already in the top six at the top if acquired by Colorado.
Hockey’s top team is once again favorite to win the Stanley Cup and is looking to break the trend of second-round departures it has seen for the past two seasons. The Avs have already taken a step forward to improve their blue line by trading for Ducks defenseman Josh Manson.
Captain Gabriel Landeskog will be out for a long time as he undergoes knee surgery, leaving a gap in the top six. It also opens the possibility for the Avalanche to gain some space if the club chooses to place him in IR for the long term. Landeskog’s $7 million cap would be off the books, leaving room for Giroux until the playoffs, when the salary cap doesn’t come into play. Additionally, the team cleared a $7 million cap. $1 million trading Tyson Jost for nature.
Justin Barron would likely be the prospect returning to Philadelphia with the team’s 2023 third-round pick (they don’t have one in 2022). The defender going to help the Flyers strengthen a blue line that once again looks like it needs an overhaul.
Imagine the Avs rolling out two lines in the playoffs of Landeskog/Nathan MacKinnon/Mikko Rantanen and Giroux/Nazem Kadri/Andre Burakovsky. It’s a nightmare for defenses.
Florida Panthers
The Panthers are another team looking to add a top-six forward to their elite offense. There has been no regular winger this season on the top line in Alexander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe. Giroux could ensure this stability.
There are enough openings in Florida’s attacking squad for Giroux to adapt. The Panthers are the league’s top scoring offense, averaging 4.16 goals per game. Giroux would not only help fuel the attack, but also relieve the defensive side, where the team has been average.
The Flyers were one of the teams rumored to be interested in Owen Tippett. The Philadelphia winger was at a recent AHL game between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Charlotte Checkers to scout the young Panthers forward. The 23-year-old has 33 points in 94 games but hasn’t played a role in Florida. He could be included in a package for Giroux.
Now let’s play the same game with the Panthers that we did with the Avs. Imagine the Panthers rolling two lines in the playoffs consisting of Barkov, Giroux, Verhaeghe, Jonathan Huberdeau, Sam Bennett and Anthony Duclair. It is a fast and dangerous attack that falls on you.
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St. Louis Blues
The Blues haven’t been high on Giroux trade talks, but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said not to rule them out, along with Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, saying the team were pushing for the veteran striker.
Giroux would fit perfectly into Craig Berube’s system, given that he already played in his system when Berube coached the Flyers for two seasons. The Philadelphia captain also played with Brayden Schenn when the forward was in Philadelphia.
The Blues would likely have to give up forward Jake Neighbors or defensive prospect Scott Perunovich, in addition to a first-round pick. It’s at a minimum.
Washington Capitals
One of the teams The Flyers’ front office has also been spotted was the Hershey Bears, the AHL affiliate of the Capitals.
Washington quietly kept tabs on Giroux’s situation in Philadelphia. Giroux played under Capitals coach Peter Laviolette during his time in Philadelphia, so like with Berube in St. Louis, there’s a familiarity there with a potential DC reunion between the two.
The Capitals have a ton of star power up front with Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and TJ Oshie. But depth up front remains a problem and Giroux could be the answer. Goaltending is also a major concern, with neither Ilya Samsonov nor Vitek Vanacek clearly emerging as the No. 1 keeper. Perhaps Flyers replacement Martin Jones could be included in the deal with Giroux, making two birds with one stone for the Caps.
Samsonov is a possible play coming back the other way, getting a fresh start in Philadelphia to play as Carter Hart’s replacement. General manager Brian MacLellan said he was hesitant to move top prospects. Picks are the likeliest path, given the Capitals have one in every round for the next three drafts.
