Claude Giroux has picked his new team!

Claude Giroux is coming home. The star forward, who was one of the most coveted free agency on the board on Wednesday, is signing with the Ottawa Senators.

Per insider Pierre LeBrun, he agrees to a three-year deal with the Senators, $6.5 M AAV per season.

Chatter had gotten louder earlier this week as general manager Pierre Dorion made several trades to better his team. Not only did he get rid of goalie Matt Murray in a move to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but also acquired on Tuesday top netminder Cam Talbot in a trade with the Minnesota Wild. The moves came after the Senators also landed talented forward Alex DeBrincat from the Chicago Blackhawks, creating an impressive lineup in Ottawa for 2022-23.

Giroux got the feeling that Ottawa is ready to contend and is now joining the club, while getting a major advantage in the deal, which is to move back home. 

“We’re thrilled to add a player of Claude’s calibre to our lineup. He’s an elite offensive talent with exceptional face-off prowess & a player who maintains a strong work ethic. His leadership skills are arguably among his best assets.”

GM Pierre Dorion 

The Florida Panthers had been hoping to bring Giroux back, but the club has just $3 million in projected cap space. Not enough to keep Giroux, who proved to have much more in the tank, recording 65 points in 75 games split between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Panthers this past season.

This is a fairy tale in this busy free agent frenzy.