Claude Giroux file: the Senators are afraid of the Canadiens

Claude Giroux has been playing in Ottawa for three years.

As far as I know, no one twisted the Ontarian’s arm to make him choose the Sens in 2022. He chose himself to sign for a Canadian club that was rebuilding, as a way of coming home.

The Sens weren’t going to complain.

So, with the Senators just back in the playoffs, it’s logical to think that he’d still like to sign his next contract in Ottawa.

But you know as well as I do that the NHL is a business. Anything can happen.

That’s why Senators management would like to settle the matter as quickly as possible, to prevent Giroux from approaching autonomy in a month’s time.

Negotiations have begun between the Giroux clan and Steve Staios, but a common ground will have to be found.

From what we can read, there is work to be done in terms of contract years. As reported in the Ottawa Sun, the player could potentially have two years on the market, but the Sens would prefer to give a single year, due to his age.

It’s possible, however, that the club will go to two years to avoid letting him test his autonomy.