Claude Giroux
“We signed Claude eight years ago to a lengthy, superstar type of contract, which he earned, and as part of that contract he had a no move clause and he earned that right to decide, to have a big say in where he would go, I think is the best way to put it,” Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher said. “I did have a very limited market in terms of the teams I could speak with.”
The only Flyer who needed to find the back of the net was Kevin Hayes. Hayes scored twice in the second period, including a power-play goal with 5:05 remaining. That proved to be the game-winner through the third period, as the Flyers claimed a 2-1 win over the Islanders.
One day after trading Claude Giroux to Florida, it could be the final game for several other Flyers players, as the team plays the final game before the trade deadline on Sunday afternoon against the New York Islanders.
In the end, Giroux ultimately held the keys to his destination. Florida was where he wanted to be. That left the Flyers limited in what they could get in return. If nothing else, the return in the Giroux deal is more of a reality of what the state of the Flyers is and remains after this trade, and the result of years of shortcomings by the organization.
The Flyers have traded Giroux, forwards Connor Bunnaman and German Rubtsov, and a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Florida Panthers for forward Owen Tippett, a 2024 first-round pick and a 2023 third-round pick. The Flyers are also retaining half of Giroux’s salary.
The Flyers, without Claude Giroux in anticipation of a trade, will take on the Ottawa Senators on Friday night.
Giroux took his lap around the Wells Fargo Center ice, waved to the crowd, and darted off the ice, only to return for a curtain call, another final lap around as he was named first star of the game, and exited up the tunnel. His teammates all lined up to hug him. The emotion started to show. This felt like the end of an era.
Joel Farabee scored off the great feed from Hayes to secure a 5-4 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center on a night when the team honored Claude Giroux for his 1,000th game.
Flyers captain Claude Giroux will suit up in his 1,000th NHL game, all with the Flyers, as they take on the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. With the trade deadline looming, now just four days away, it could very well be the final time Giroux wears the Flyers uniform.
Claude Giroux has appeared in every game since Jan. 13 and will take the ice for his 1,000th game in the NHL and in a Flyers uniform on Thursday night against the Nashville Predators. Prior to the game, the Flyers will hold a ceremony to honor Giroux’s milestone.
