Claude Giroux made a costly mistake…

Veteran forward Claude Giroux turns 35 years old next season. Unfortunately, that means that time is running out for him to finally, for once in his career, hoist the Stanley Cup.

We see it nightly during NHL playoff games: commercials about the Stanley Cup and Giroux was featured in one of them.

Flashed on the screen with a simple message under the former Philadelphia Flyers’ captain: “He just wants one.”

Giroux thought he was going to get it with Florida. That’s why just before the trade deadline, he accepted to be moved to the Panthers. However, the Panthers did not make Giroux the best offer: according to many insiders, including Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and Frank Seravalli of Daily Face-off, the best offer on the table came before Florida made its own, by the Colorado Avalanche.

Giroux however chose to decline the offer from the Avs, forcing Flyers’ management to complete a transaction with Florida even if it the return was less advantageous for them.

As we look at the playoff picture on Wednesday, the Avalanche was just a win away from the Western Conference finals as they lead their series against the St. Louis Blues 3-1, with Game 5 coming from Denver later tonight. In the East the Panthers were swept in just four games by the Tampa Bay Lightning, now off on vacation.

No one knows if Giroux will get another shot at the Stanley Cup in the next few years. This is one costly mistake that could haunt him for the rest of his life…