Photo Credit: Len Redkoles/Getty Images
Claude Giroux deserved better, Giroux deserved a better roster, to include the goaltending position. The goaltending position really set this organization back for years, and without THAT FRANCHISE netminder Giroux’s prime years came and went, sort of wasted with no Stanley Cup in the end. However, Giroux made an imprint on this organization as the longest tenured Captain in Flyers history, and he ranks close to the franchises best in certain areas of the game:
First in Power Play points- 339
First in Power Play assists- 255
Second in games played- 1,000
Second in points- 900
Second in assists- 609
8th in goals- 291
The writing was on the wall for Giroux to be traded to the Colorado Avalanche or the Florida Panthers. In the end it was the Panthers that ended up winning the war for Giroux, as Giroux knew his fate last night after playing in his 1,000th game with the Flyers, “The fans, the organization, my teammates,” Giroux said. “It was a fun night, but (Pause), not really.”
“Not really” as reality sunk in following the beautiful ceremony, and honoring of Giroux throughout the duration of the game, that this was indeed his last game before the proud faithful of Philadelphia. Reality that he would indeed be moved swiftly within the course of the next day or so. So far the Trade is as follows:
Philadelphia Receives- 2024 1st, 2023 3rd, Owen Tippett
Florida Receives- Claude Giroux, German Rubtsov, Connor Bunnaman, retain 50% Giroux’s salary, 5th round pick in 2023
On the surface, this is one of the worst trades in franchise history for the Flyers. Essentially, they traded two first round picks, and then retained 50% of Claude Giroux’s salary which doesn’t make sense for the return. Only thing that will make this better is if Giroux comes back on a hometown discount in the offseason.
“Yeah, the whole ceremony was great. Being able to be with my parents, and my wife and my two boys, it was special. One time I just kind of waved at the crowd to say thanks, and then Gavin decided to do the same thing and I was just kind of cracking up a little bit.” – Claude Giroux
Carter Hart hoped that last night was not Claude Giroux’s last game as a Flyer, “He’s a special player, teammate, and good friend,” Hart says. Hart says he wishes they could have given more for Giroux.
Kevin Hayes was very appreciative of all that Giroux has done for his career, and personally. Hayes called Giroux “An even better human,” following the game. “He (Claude Giroux) has been the heart and soul for this organization since he got here,” Hayes said. “He’s been the heart and soul of this organization since the day he’s got here. I was fortunate enough to play three years with him. He’s given everything he has to this organization, and it shows how much he cares and how much he wants to win. Even though this season hasn’t gone the way we wanted to, the trade rumors have been swirling about him… he’s handled it professionally, and the correct way just like we all assumed he would. We’re not sure what’s going to happen the next couple of days, but if he does get moved, I’ll have a new team to root for.”
Giroux leaves behind more than a decade of legacies in Flyers history, as he is littered near the top in every single major scoring category. However, for one last night the Philly proud faithful got to see their beloved Giroux salute, pound his heart, and wave to the faithful on a night that most will never forget.
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Chuck Fletcher should be summarily fired for the Giroux trade’s wholesale lack of return. Every professional hockey commentator observed how Giroux was the “star” of the trade deadline and wrote he’d bring back much more than Fletcher agreed. The trades over the past few days showed that this belief was well-founded. With an apparent bidding war between the Avalanche and Panthers, this trade unquestionably shows Fletcher couldn’t build a Lego set let alone an NHL team. Time for Chuck to go.