The Florida Panthers have acquired Claude Giroux from the Philadelphia Flyers, reports The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. TSN’s Chris Johnston adds that Owen Tippett is part of the package going back to Philadelphia. The Flyers will also receive a 2024 first-round pick from the Panthers, says David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, which is top-10 protected. They will also receive a 2023 third-round pick, according to The Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli (link).
In addition to Giroux, the Panthers will also receive forward Connor Bunnaman per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, as well as forward German Rubtsov and the Flyers’ 2024 fifth-round pick, adds LeBrun (link).
With the trade finally materializing, Giroux’s illustrious career on Broad Street has come to an end, and so has the sweepstakes for one of the most coveted deadline rentals in recent history. With the details all accounted for, this trade includes many moving parts on either side. The Panthers of course acquire Giroux, along with Rubtsov, Bunnaman, and a fifth-round draft pick in 2024. In exchange for their franchise icon and other pieces, the Flyers receive Tippett, a first-round draft pick in 2024, and a third-round draft pick in 2023. The Flyers will also retain 50% of Giroux’s salary, as expected.
In Giroux, the Panthers acquire an incredibly versatile player, and another star to add to their group. The 34-year-old has shown throughout his career he can produce strong offensive numbers while playing a 200-foot game, excelling on both the powerplay and penalty-kill, and is widely regarded as one of the best faceoff men in the game. To date, Giroux sits at exactly 900 career points in an even 1,000 career games, including 18 goals and 24 points in 57 games for the Flyers this season.
Giroux not only gives the Panthers another option, but should allow them to be creative in setting their lineups down the stretch and into the playoffs. He should also be able to take some pressure off of the players around him, including star center Aleksander Barkov and Hart Trophy candidate Jonathan Huberdeau.
As exciting as the blockbuster is for hockey fans, especially Panthers fans, the trade is a tough pill to swallow for the Flyers and their fans. While Giroux was expected to be dealt considering the team’s recent struggles and Giroux’s status as a UFA after this season, it is no easier to see the team’s captain, who had just celebrated 1,000 games in the NHL and in a Flyers uniform, at home on Thursday.
Nonetheless, the return for Giroux should be enough to excite the Flyers. The organization acquired two draft picks, including a third-round pick in a strong 2023 draft class, as well as a first-round draft pick in 2024. While the 2024 draft feels like it’s quite far-out, it provides the Flyers with an asset to help continue and develop their build with assets down the road. The primary centerpiece of this deal though, is Tippett. Although Tippett has not met the expectations that saw him selected 10th overall by the Panthers in 2017, he has been able to produce in both the AHL and NHL so far in his career. It’s also worth noting that Tippett has seen rather limited minutes and opportunities in his time with the Panthers, considering the talent and depth of the organization. Most likely, Flyers fans can look forward to seeing their young forward in the lineup soon.
This still reminds me too much of Iginla to the Pens and similar trades that look like slam dunks on paper and just never click. We’ll see.
This wouldn’t scare me if I’m Tampa.
Excited to see Tippett get a new opportunity but Philly’s not exactly a player development factory lol.
Panthers going all in. The East is stacked.
Wow nice haul for Philly. They were losing with Giroux, they can lose without him
This deadline is like nhl 22 on easy mode
Awful trade for the Flyers. They give up Giroux, two other players & a pick for Tippett & two pick that aren’t even going to help them in the near future. You give up the best player in the deal & still give up more than the other team. The trade is going to get ripped apart in Philly. Fletcher will be lambasted.
No, not at all. It wasn’t the best offer but it was entirely up to Giroux and Philly owes it to him to respect that. I would much rather see him go where he wants than get the “better” of a deal that involves a whole bunch of lottery tickets and crapshoots anyway.
The Flyers didn’t have to put three other pieces in the deal. Giroux for 3 pieces makes sense. Giving Florida Giroux, 3 other pieces & retaining 50% of his salary makes little sense. Trade Giroux for Tippet & the two picks. Don’t give the Panthers more pieces
So, wait, the key player in the deal nixed a better offer for the team to go to the place he preferred…?
Yeah, this really reminds me of the Iggy deal.
What if those pieces stink, though?
Rubstov is a bust and I’ve never heard of the other guy.
Clearing out bad contracts has some value.
I’m not worried about including a couple minor league depth pieces that went unclaimed off waivers earlier this year to facilitate a Giroux trade.
I won’t say they were fleeced. Tippett is underwhelming and not living up to draft expectations (the type of wing the Flyers have plenty of) but at least we got a first round pick. Also, Giroux has a NMC and we wanted to send him somewhere he would be happy.
Thanks for lending your expertise to this discussion, Coach!
Once again, wish you the best G. Hope you win a Cup and can come back one day.
Giroux goes to south Florida, gets his ring, and signs with his hometown team in the offseason. The plan is in motion.
Glad to see Giroux go. Flyers became too focused on believing they could succeed with him, but obviously not. Best to tear down as much as possible to over next two years.
Rubtsov and Bannaman is just Philly doing house cleaning.
Nice assessment, Captain Obvious…..
What I like of this trade from the Panthers perspective is that they got back other pieces besides Giroux. They may not amount to much, but the same can be said about Tippitt.
That Bolts/Panthers series will be a doozy!
Tippett has a lot of upside, didn’t get enough opportunity in FL. Think Panthers will regret this trade in a couple of years.
I think Panthers might regret this trade in the next 3 months because if the Panthers don’t win the Stanley Cup I will say they’ll be out in the first round and that will be a bust
Seems pretty light for the Best Rental Available going for a few months.
When the player has a NMC and limits his destination to one team the only alternative is not to trade him. The Panthers don’t really need Giroux.
So that they can possibly watch him walk in free agency while they receive nothing in return. Smart
Do they “need” Giroux? I’d say yes or they wouldn’t have traded for him. Can’t have enough talent. Especially when you’re trying to get through the back to back champions in your conference
Considering what the Bruins just traded for Lindholm, this is a steal for FLA.
It will be interesting to see what Barkov can do with a true first line player with him