Claude Giroux traded to Florida Panthers for Owen Tippett
(Photo Credit: @NHL/ Twitter)

Claude Giroux is heading to Sunrise.

According to a report by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Flyers have traded captain Claude Giroux to the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Owen Tippett and draft picks. Further details of the trade below.

Giroux played his 1,000th NHL game in Philadelphia on Thursday in what became an emotional send-off for the Flyers’ legend. The captain did not accompany the team to Ottawa for their next game Friday. Giroux stayed back in Philly as GM Chuck Fletcher finalized a trade.

According to a report, Colorado, Boston and the New York Rangers also had offers in place for Giroux. Giroux reportedly turned down offers to the Bruins and Rangers. It came down to Florida and Colorado. Giroux has a no-move clause, so he could essentially choose his destination.

Claude Giroux Trade Details

The Flyers traded Giroux to the Panthers in exchange for 23-year-old forward Owen Tippett, a first-round pick in 2024, and a third round pick in 2023. 23-year-old center Connor Bunnaman and prospect German Rubtsov are also accompanying Giroux to Florida. The Flyers are retaining 50% of Claude Giroux’s salary/cap hit in the deal.

Giroux is in the final year of an eight-year deal that carries a cap hit of $8.275M. Giroux will be a UFA at the end of the 2021-22 season. In 57 games this season, Giroux has 18 goals and 42 points.

Tippett, meanwhile, is in the final year of a three-year deal that pays him $832,500 annually. Tippett will be an RFA at the end of the 2021-22 NHL season. In 42 NHL games this season, Tippett has six goals and 14 points.

Claude Giroux Trade Analysis 

It became very clear over the past few weeks that the Flyers were going to trade Giroux. Philadelphia is sitting at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings and going to miss the playoffs for a second straight year. Giroux gave everything he could to Philadelphia during 14 seasons with the Flyers. The team is now repaying him by giving him a chance to chase hockey’s ultimate prize. Giroux’s 1,000 NHL game Thursday was basically a swan song for the Flyers’ legend.

Giroux is a huge addition for a Panthers team that owns the second-best record in the NHL. Florida is already the highest-scoring team in the league, averaging 4.10 goals per game. It’s clear the Cats are going for the 2022 Stanley Cup. Giroux, who has averaged close to a point-per-game in his career, will compliment Florida’s superstars Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov. Giroux is also top-10 in NHL faceoffs (61.1%) this season and will aid a Panthers team that has the fourth-worst faceoff percentage in the NHL (47.4%). Faceoffs are one of Florida’s lone weaknesses, so having a player who can win draws in key situations is important.

Although the Flyers trade their longtime captain Giroux, they do get a decent return. GM Fletcher’s hands were tied with Giroux having a no-move-clause. Philadelphia is going through a rebuilding phase and trying to build a playoff-calibre roster for the future. The Flyers haven’t made it past the second round of the playoffs since 2010. Tippett is a talented sniper who found himself on the outs of a deep Florida team. The young forward should benefit from a change of scenery in Philadelphia.