Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux signing with Ottawa is bittersweet

Former Philadelphia Flyers Captain Claude Giroux has agreed to a three-year deal with the Ottawa Senators, the perfect destination to eventually close his NHL story. After a 15-year career with the Flyers, Giroux was traded at the deadline to the Florida Panthers, his team of choice, in order to give him a chance to compete for Lord Stanley’s Cup. A chance he was certainly not going to have in Philadelphia. The Panthers’ postseason fell apart after they were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round.

When the offseason rolled around, Giroux had a choice to make. He could return to Florida, although he would have had to take an unrealistic discount. He could have hopped to another contender, such as the Avalanche, Flames, or Hurricanes. Or, Giroux could have potentially even returned to the Flyers. Philadelphia, however, seemed beyond unlikely as the team was, and remains, in no position to compete. Giroux’s final option, the one that made sense all along, was an opportunity to return home.

Former Philadelphia Flyers Claude Giroux has agreed to a three-year deal with the Ottawa Senators, the perfect destination to eventually close his NHL story. Giroux partially grew up in the city of Ottawa, having moved there when he was 14 years old, and played both major and minor AA hockey there as well. While some may still wish he were in the orange and black, this next chapter in Giroux’s career will be a special one for both he and his family.

As disappointing as seeing him in yet another sweater is, Claude Giroux’s decision to return home is poetically beautiful even for Philadelphia Flyers fans.

Born in Hearst, Ontario, Giroux moved to the city of Ottawa when he was 14 years old and played both major and minor AA hockey while there. Now, as a seven-time All-Star and 2022 All-Star game MVP, Claude Giroux returns to his hometown to experience the twilight of his career with his family while also being able to compete.

The Ottawa Senators may have only finished with 73 points on the season in 2021-22, but the young and admittedly exciting team made a concerted effort to improve with some major transactions. The biggest of which was, of course, trading for 24-year-old sniper Alex DeBrincat from the Chicago Blackhawks. Ottawa also added veteran goaltender Cam Talbot who will make up half of the tandem between the pipes for the Senators, joining Anton Forsberg.

Add Giroux to that equation, and you have quite the set of offseason additions to partner with the likes of Brady Tkachuk, Joshua Norris, and Drake Batherson. With that type of exciting young talent, the Senators could be one of the more surprising teams within a season or two. Joining your home team, which is committed to surrounding you with quality players in hopes of competing, is just about as perfect a situation as one can realistically draw up.

While Giroux is just 34 and could theoretically play his way into another quality contract, if Ottawa is, in fact, his last stop, he picked quite the spot for a hopeful storybook ending. As much as it hurts that he was never able to kiss the cup in Philadelphia, Claude Giroux has earned this opportunity after putting forth one of the most impressive statistical careers in Philadelphia Flyers history.

Giroux, who is second in games played, assists, and points in Flyers’ history, may never play another game for the Orange and Black, but he will eventually be remembered as one of the greatest to hit the ice for Philadelphia. There should be nothing but well-wishes now and going forward for the former Philadelphia Flyers Captain.