The Philadelphia Flyers are officially punting on the 2021-22 NHL season. The team just traded away All-Star center Claude Giroux, sending their longtime captain to the Florida Panthers.
According to the official terms of the deal, the Flyers will receive a third-rounder in next year’s draft and a first-round pick in 2024. They also get talented winger Owen Tippett, but they will continue playing 50 percent of Giroux’s salary.
On the other hand, the Panthers get Giroux and 2024’s fifth-round selection while also taking on the contracts of forwards Connor Bunnamann and German Rubtsov.
This move indicates that the Panthers are all-in for this season. Giroux makes their already-scary offense even better and should make a significant impact with his scoring and passing ability. The franchise recognized the time to win is now, and you can’t blame them for mortgaging their future in an effort to win their first Stanley Cup. Florida is currently sitting at the top of the Atlantic Division with the second-best record (42-14-6) in the league.
The Flyers, on the other hand, recognized that they shouldn’t deny Giroux a chance to win his first Stanley Cup. They are a weaker team today, but the assets they received should help them in the long run.
Claude Giroux spent his entire NHL career with the Flyers and has served as the team captain since 2013. He played a total of 1,000 games for the franchise in which he scored 291 goals and dished 609 assists. In addition, Giroux made seven All-Star appearances while in Philadelphia.
