Photo Credit: Len Redkoles/Getty Images
Claude Giroux was saluting the crowd, wiping away tears, as he received the first star following his historic 1,000th game with the Flyers. Giroux became just the second Flyer in history to eclipse the 1,000 game mark as a member of the orange, and black, and reality set in for Giroux as he practically confirmed that this was indeed his final game before he gets moved, “The fans, the organization, my teammates,” Giroux said. “It was a fun night, but (Pause), not really.”
Of course, Giroux did not travel with the team to Ottawa. He will be traded before the trade deadline commences on Monday March 21st. Two teams that are voting for his services are the Florida Panthers and the Colorado Avalanche.
Even though, Giroux was left behind in Philly, the game still went on against the Senators. The Flyers fought a bit in the first period against the Senators, but as the game wore on the Flyers just looked defeated, exhausted from missing their Captain and the festivities from the night before.
Yes, it was an emotional night the before in a 5-4 victory over the Nashville Predators, but Cam Atkinson said it best before the game against the Senators:
“You can’t replace a Claude Giroux.” – Cam Atkinson
Atkinson further elaborated, saying that some do not realize know how much Claude Giroux meant and did for the Flyers organization. Some fans have ridiculed Giroux for not winning a Stanley Cup, but the Flyers did Giroux a disservice with not surrounding him with adequate linemates around him throughout his tenure as a Flyer. His best line was with Scott Hartnell and Jaromir Jágr, only for one season though.
All in all Giroux will be missed. Replacing Giroux right away will not be easy, even in a lost season that this has come to be. Giroux appeared to be the heart beat of the Flyers locker room, and that is not easy to replace.
