Chances are, you already have an opinion, and it may be at a polar extreme, which is understandable. The former beloved captain will be a Flyer for life in the hearts of many fans, and seeing him return would complete the cycle. Why would the rebuilding Flyers want to bring a player pushing 40 into the mix, though?
For starters, the team lost a locker room leader and veteran center when they traded Scott Laughton to the Toronto Maple Leafs. As the Flyers are a young team, leadership is critical. The organization’s favorite form of leadership is funneled through the alumni pipeline. Giroux, the longest-tenured captain in Flyers history, sure fits that bill.
Giroux will be 38 before the 2025-26 season starts and has shown some declining numbers in the last few seasons. He finished the last campaign with 50 points, a 15‑point drop from the year before. To provide some perspective, he would have finished third on the roster in points and assists (35), trailing only Travis Konecny and Matvei Michkov.
Even in his late 30s, Giroux remains an incredibly durable player, who played all 82 games in two of the last three seasons, and 81 last season. He is both a stable presence and a known quantity, which are traits the Flyers need. Additionally, he is terrific in the face-off dot – something the Flyers desperately need. Giroux led the league with a 61.5 percent face‑off win rate. The Flyers finished last season with a rate of 49.9 percent, and, quite frankly, it is hard to score if you do not control the puck.
Giroux is also a responsible two-way player who is good on special teams. Losing Laughton also hurt the penalty kill, another area in which Giroux thrives.
Would Giroux want to return to Philadelphia, though?
It is reasonable to think he would. He still has many ties to the area, with friends and former teammates like Scott Hartnell and current General Manager Danny Briere living here. Important moments took place in Philadelphia, including his marriage and the birth of his two children. As time passes, those roots often matter more as a career winds down.