Chuck Fletcher Knew Claude Giroux Wanted to Be a Florida Panther

Various reports indicate that Claude Giroux was only willing to accept a trade to the Florida Panthers. Assuming that is true, Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher made the best available deal with the only possible partner.

It can be assumed Fletcher did not want to commit to re-signing Giroux in the off-season, which is why there apparently was no offered or realized new contract. Fletcher appears to have concluded that the team's direction forward is without its longtime captain. 

In addition to acquiring Owen Tippett and two draft picks (for Giroux, the retention of half of his remaining contract that ends this season, Connor Bunnaman, German Rubtsov, and a draft pick) cap space is now able to be reallocated moving forward as Giroux's expiring contract leaves space open for next season. Decisions about how to best address that space, trades that will be made before Monday's deadline, off-season moves, the impact of returning players who are injured, and addressing the head coaching situation shift the focus even more intently to Fletcher. 

Giroux earned the right to his no-movement clause and employed it. Fletcher responded based on the unexpected season that played out. The business of hockey on both ends.

The face of the franchise is gone. The future is a developing series of questions to be answered. 

Philadelphia Flyers Pre-Game Event - Claude Giroux's 1000th Game Celebrated

 

(Claude Giroux's 2007 NHL Draft photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers Public Relations Department.)

Claude Giroux is one of the great players in Philadelphia Flyers history. He is destined for the National Hockey League's Hall of Fame. 

March 17 is generally reserved as a celebration of St. Patrick's Day, with green highlighting sporting events on that date. But March 17, 2022, was a showcase day to reflect on the career of this Hearst, Ontario, Canada, native. 

The Flyers handle pre-game celebrations as well as any NHL organization. The storied franchise actually honored their longtime captain all week, with his 1000th game in the League being played against the Nashville Predators, fittingly at home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Wells Fargo Center 

The looming Trade Deadline arrives on March 21, with Giroux being the top name on the market. But the future was not the focus as an old-school loud arena honored G on March 17.

Per the Flyers Public Relations Department:

Giroux becomes just the second player in franchise history to reach that mark and trails only Bob Clarke (1,144) for the most games played all-time in Flyers history.

Giroux also becomes the 368th player, and 365th skater, in NHL history to have played 1000 games, the 71st player to accomplish that feat with the same team, the 36th active player, 11th player this season and sixth player from the 2006 NHL Draft Class to reach 1000 games.

Giroux is in his 15th Flyers and NHL season and 10th season as Flyers captain since being named on January 15, 2013. He has served as captain for over 700 games, including tonight (715), making him the longest-tenured captain in Flyers history.

In addition to tonight's milestone, Giroux has hit multiple franchise marks this season (stats are through 999 games played):

On Mar. 13, Giroux scored a goal to record his 900th point in the NHL and became the second player in team history to hit that milestone. In addition, the goal was Giroux's 291st and moved him into 8th place all-time in franchise history, which surpassed Eric Lindros.

On Dec. 29 at Seattle, Giroux recorded his 600th assist becoming one of only two Flyers (Clarke-852) to reach 600 assists as a Flyer, and on Dec. 10 vs. Vegas Golden Knights, Giroux surpassed Clarke for the most points on the power play (334) in Flyers history with a power-play assist.

A native of Hearst, Ontario, Giroux ranks second in Flyers history in overall points (900), assists (609), games played (999) and is the Flyers all-time leader in overtime goals (11) and points on the power-play (339).

MOST GAMES PLAYED IN FLYERS HISTORY

Bob Clarke        1,144

Claude Giroux 1,000

Bill Barber         903

Brian Propp       790

* Sean Couturier is the next active Flyer with the most games played in a Flyers uniform at 721 games played.

              (Pre-game team photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers Public Relations Department.)