The Philadelphia Flyers made quite a splash today. The club agreed to trade star Claude Giroux to the Florida Panthers in a package that includes top prospect Owen Tippett. The Flyers are also getting the Panthers 2024 first-round pick, and 2023 third-round pick. The Flyers retain 50% of Giroux’s salary and cap hit.
Awaiting confirmation, trade call not completed, but sounds like basis of package #Flyers are getting is 2024 1st round pick, 2023 3rd round pick and Owen Tippett for Claude Giroux.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 19, 2022
Owen Tippett is heading to the #flyers as part of the Claude Giroux trade.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 19, 2022
Philadelphia Flyers Trade Away Claude Giroux
The Flyers complete this trade ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, in exchange with the Panthers. The Panthers acquire centre Claude Giroux from Philly. Giroux’s name swirled in rumours all season long, as the Flyers remained near the bottom of the standings. Now, the 34-year-old Giroux has a postseason opportunity that didn’t exist in Philadelphia this year.
Key Players
In Giroux, the Panthers receive the face of the Flyers’ franchise for over a decade. This season, he scored 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points, adding 16 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers are 59.3 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 16.5. Those possession totals are nearly identical to last season, and on-par with his career averages. He’s an extremely valuable player who reached the 20-goal plateau eight times prior to this season. His tenacity complements his elite top-line forward status brilliantly.
Giroux remains a renowned member of the “players you hate unless they’re on your team” category. Over his 15-year NHL career, he only suited up for Philadelphia. In that time, he netted 288 goals and 605 assists for 893 career points in 987 games. He was originally drafted in the first round, 22nd overall of the 2006 NHL draft by the Flyers.
Tippett was the Panthers first-round pick, 10th overall, in the 2017 NHL Draft. The 23-year-old has put up six goals and 14 points in 42 games this season. LWOS’ Prospect Guru Ben Kerr says, “Tippett is a pure sniper who is dangerous anytime he finds open space to get a shot off. He also shows the ability to find soft spots in the defensive zone, and get open to let off a one-timer. He’s had trouble finding those soft spots in the NHL, in the ways he did in junior and the AHL.”
What This Means for the Future
This trade means Claude Giroux will wear a new uniform for the first time in his decorated NHL career. That will surely be a sight to see, and his new club will be ecstatic. Adding a dynamic top-six centre for a playoff run is not always doable, and the return going back to Philly shows that. It helped that Giroux’s contract expires after this season, though also increases the risk for the long-term future. That makes him a rental piece more than likely. So, judging the success of the deal will come down to whether or not Giroux and his new team are lifting the Stanley Cup in June.
Main Photo:
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 05: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on against the Chicago Blackhawks at Wells Fargo Center on March 05, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
