The Philadelphia Flyers got off to as strong a start to their final stretch of the season after overcoming a 2-0 deficit to defeat the New York Rangers 3-2 in overtime. The clock is ticking for the Flyers to come up with their strategy for the trade deadline, which is on March 6 at 3:00 p.m. ET. General Manager Danny Briere has already said he's not going to sacrifice the future to make a push for a playoff spot. That, and there are reports that the team is listening on offers for defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.
While there are some well-known names that are on the trade block, but there is always a surprise late addition. For Flyers fans, there is a familiar face that will raise some eyebrows.
The Athletic NHL insider Pierre LeBrun mentions that former Flyers captain and current Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux is set to hit free agency after the season. While LeBrun says that Giroux would prefer to stay in Ottawa, where he's from, there's also the possibility that he could try to land on a playoff contending team.
Former Flyers captain Claude Giroux could be moved at trade deadline
"Giroux has a full no-move clause, and Ottawa is his home. But he’s also never won a Cup. My sense is Giroux would rather stay put because he thinks they can still make the playoffs. But if the Sens struggle over the next week and dig a hole, that could make him think about things," writes LeBrun.
"I can think of a number of Cup contenders who would want to get their hands on the 38-year-old if that comes to pass. His $2 million cap hit makes him easily absorbed, although he does have some playoff performance bonuses."
It sure is surprising to see Giroux's name pop up on the trade block. But for teams looking for veteran experience, he could be an option or them. The Senators are in a tough Atlantic Division currently, a they are significantly behind the Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, and Boston Bruins, who are all currently in a playoff spot. The Senators are 28-22-8 with 64 points through 58 games. The playoffs aren't out of the question, but Ottawa would need to do a lot to secure a spot in this final stretch.
For Giroux, he'd have to decide whether he wants to stick around to help them or try and make a run at a Stanley Cup.
In his Flyers career, Giroux made it to the Stanley Cup Final once, and that was in 2010, where they lost in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks. Since then, Giroux never made it back to the Finals. Overall, Giroux has a 42-37-6 playoff record, along with 25 goals an 48 assists in 85 games.
Giroux last played for the Flyers in the 2021-22 season, where he played 57 games before being traded to the Florida Panthers in a trade that sent Owen Tippett to Philadelphia. After the Panthers' playoff run ended after a sweep by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Giroux signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract.
For any team wanting to acquire Giroux, they would likely be responsible for his playoff bonuses. According to Spotrac, if Giroux plays 50 games and clinches a playoff spot, he earns $500,000. He also earns an additional $500,000 for a first-round win, $250,000 for a second-round win, $500,000 for a third-round win, and $500,000 for a Stanley Cup win. So this would be taken into consideration for Giroux without a doubt.
A reunion with the Flyers would be one the fanbase would be open to. But with the Flyers in a similar position as the Senators in terms of the playoff picture, that seems unlikely. Who knows, maybe they can explore signing Giroux in the offseason.