Latest update on Claude Giroux’s potential trade out of Philly

All eyes are on Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux, who is playing out the last season of his eight-year, $66.2 million contract and reportedly waiting out to talk with management about a contract extension.

Trade rumours are getting louder about the star player. Giroux has been a lifelong member of the Flyers since being drafted in the 1st round (22nd overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, having played all 979 of the NHL games in his career with that franchise, but for perhaps the first time in his tenure with the Flyers there is serious chatter around whether or not he will even finish the season in a Flyers uniform.

On Tuesday, Pierre LeBrun gave the latest update when it comes to Giroux’s future in Philly, and according to what he reported on the latest edition of Insider Trading on TSN, fans will need to wait and see what happens with the captain closer to the trade deadline. No real update at the moment, besides the fact that Giroux will be patient. And fans will need to be as well:

“Right and that was by design that both himself and the Flyers’ management lead by GM Chuck Fletcher, in the off-season where it was a mutual decision [to wait for a contract extension]. They were comfortable going into this year and seeing how things played out. But in the meantime, his name is coming up more and more in the rumour mill and for no real reason. I can tell you that, for one, the Flyers have not talked to teams about Claude Giroux. The Flyers have not talked to Claude Giroux about the trade deadline yet. Claude Giroux has not gone to the Flyers about the trade deadline and he hasn’t even gone to his agent yet – veteran Pat Brisson – and having that kind of discussion either. Why? There are nine weeks until the trade deadline, people. Everyone take a deep breath. I know it’s mid-January, but there’s a lot of time to go. When it comes to Claude Giroux, yes, that discussion has to happen if the Flyers don’t turn around their season. He’s got a full no-move. He controls his fate closer to March 21.”

However, most insiders are adamant that Giroux will be on the move, hoping to get a chance at a championship elsewhere, seeing that the Flyers are not likely to compete in the postseason.

From the perspective of the Flyers it certainly makes sense, Giroux is on an expiring contract: he could in theory walk away as a free agent at the end of the season, leaving the Flyers empty handed.

Giroux himself has failed to capture a Stanley Cup during his NHL career and could potentially be open to the idea of moving to a contending team at the deadline for a chance at the Cup at this stage of his career. Whether or not that matters more to him than spending his entire career as a member of the Flyers remains to be seen.

But it sure sounds like he is holding the long end of the stick here and will decide closer to the trade deadline. If the Flyers continue to be out of the playoff picture as March 21st inches closer, trading Giroux looks like a win-win for the player and team.