It happened. Many Flyers fans were able to bid farewell to Claude Giroux in his 1000th outing for the team, but it doesn’t make the inevitable goodbye any easier. As of this evening, Claude Giroux is no longer a Philadelphia Flyer.
The heart and soul of Broad Street has been traded to the Florida Panthers are 15 years in Philadelphia, along with Connor Bunnaman and German Rubtsov. The Flyers are also surrendering a 2024 fifth-rounder and retaining 50% of Giroux’s salary, which sits at around $4.1M. In exchange, the Flyers will receive a first-round pick in 2024, a third-rounder in 2023, and 23-year-old forward, Owen Tippett.
Giroux departs Philadelphia after exactly 1,000 appearances. In that time, he’s amassed 291 goals, 609 assists, and 900 points. There probably couldn’t be a better point in time to say goodbye. Undoubtedly one of the greatest players to ever put on an orange jersey, Giroux’s legacy in Philadelphia will be one that lives on for generations.
With that said, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that he returns. He is a free agent at the end of this season, so if he were to win a Stanley Cup with the Panthers, why wouldn’t he come back home to finish his career? The fact the Flyers only seem to be going backwards might play a role in that decision, but we can all dream.
As for the player stepping into the biggest pair of skates imaginable, insert Owen Tippett. He was the 10th overall pick back in 2017 and has 33 points in 94 games.
The Flyers are back on the ice tomorrow against the Islanders for their first official Giroux-less game…and it’s probably going to suck.
It will be extremely strange seeing Giroux put on a different team’s jersey, but all of Philadelphia will be hoping he can turn this move into a Cup-winning one. For now, all we can do is look back on what has been a remarkable 15-year spell. The highs, the lows, and every highlight reel moment in-between.
Thank you, Claude Giroux.
Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
