The 38-year-old alternate captain of the Ottawa Senators, Claude Giroux, has not yet decided where he will play next season, sources close to the player told the Ottawa Citizen late Friday. This contradicts social media reports earlier in the day that indicated he was headed for a reunion with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Giroux's Decision Still Pending
While a return to Philadelphia, where Giroux spent 15 seasons and played 1,000 games, remains a strong possibility, neither his camp nor the Flyers have confirmed a deal is complete. The Toronto Maple Leafs have also spoken with Giroux's representatives and remain keenly interested, while the Edmonton Oilers made a pitch but are no longer involved, according to Sportsnet columnist Mark Spector.
Senators' Offer on the Table
Steve Staios, the Senators' president of hockey operations and general manager, stated on July 1 that the club has an offer on the table to bring Giroux back. After four seasons in Ottawa, Giroux seems to have one foot out the door, but the door remains open for his return. The belief in league circles is that a return to the Flyers is inevitable, as this will likely be Giroux's final NHL season.
Flyers' Cap Situation Complicated by Offer Sheet
Philadelphia general manager Daniel Briere, a former teammate of Giroux, signed restricted free agent Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet on Friday. The offer sheet requires the Flyers to forfeit four first-round draft picks if matched. Anaheim has seven days to decide. The Flyers have $30 million in cap space but still need to sign forwards Trevor Zegras and defenseman Jamie Drysdale, both restricted free agents.
Giroux is the Flyers' all-time leading scorer with 291 goals, 609 assists, and 900 points in his career in Philadelphia. A return to the Flyers would be emotional for Giroux, who is beloved in the city, but it would be a tough pill for Senators fans to swallow.
