Florida acquiring Giroux
The Florida Panthers are trading for All-Star forward Claude Giroux, multiple outlets reported Saturday.
The Panthers have spent much of the past few months linked to Giroux as they try to load up to make a run at the Stanley Cup, and they were able to reach agreement with the Philadelphia Flyers before Monday’s trade deadline.
In exchange for Giroux, 34, Florida is sending right wing Owen Tippett to the Flyers, as well as a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and a first-round pick in 2024, The Sports Network reported.
Tippet is the centerpiece of the trade: He played on the Panthers’ second line during the 2021 playoffs but has spent much of this season in the American Hockey League. AHL Charlotte had held him out since Thursday as Florida tried to figure out a trade.
The Panthers also are getting centers Connor Bunnaman and German Rubtsov, both 23, and a 2024 fifth-round pick.
In the past year, Florida has traded away firstround picks in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to land forward Sam Reinhart, defenseman Ben Chiarot and Giroux, respectively. It’s an all-in move for general manager Bill Zito as he tries to win the first Cup in franchise history and the club’s first postseason series since 1996.
Giroux is in the final year of an eight-year contract, so this might amount to a rental, especially given the Panthers’ desire to extend All-Star left wing Jonathan Huberdeau this offseason.
For the Panthers, it’s a risk worth taking: Excluding Giroux, their top eight scorers, and 12 of their top 13, are under contract through at least next season, meaning Florida should be in the midst of a multi-year window.
Giroux, who has played his entire career with the Flyers and in seven AllStar games, played his 1,000th game for Philadelphia on Thursday, and the Flyers shut him down afterward, waiting to find a trade partner.
Florida has been seeking a forward to play on the wing next to star center Aleksander Barkov on its top line. Giroux, who plays both center and left wing, could be the answer. He has 18 goals and 24 assists in 57 games for last-place Philadelphia this season.