Senators Expected To Re-Sign Claude Giroux

Claude Giroux “will return” to the Ottawa Senators on a new contract that is currently being completed, reports Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

Several teams, including the Philadelphia Flyers, where Giroux was once a superstar, have been reported to be after the veteran’s services over the past week. But in the end, it appears the former Hart Trophy finalist has elected to remain with his hometown team. Giroux has been a Senator since the summer of 2022.

The 38-year-old forward enters what could be the final season of his 19-year, 1,345-game NHL career. While he has been on numerous deep playoff runs, a Stanley Cup ring has thus far eluded him. There may have been some belief that Giroux would go “ring-chasing” during the twilight years of his NHL career, simply joining the teams with the strongest chances of winning a Stanley Cup, but Giroux has not operated in that way.

Instead, he’s devoted what are likely to be the final years of his career to his hometown team, helping the Senators emerge from a protracted rebuild and end an extended playoff drought. He brought exceptional offensive ability – he has 242 points in 327 career games in Ottawa – to the Canadian capital at a moment when the franchise desperately needed real on-ice credibility. His efforts were essential in lifting Ottawa out of the league’s basement and into the playoffs.

Now, at a moment when he could have departed and joined one of the league’s most favored contenders, Giroux has once again committed to the Senators at a crucially important time for the club. Ottawa lost the face of their franchise when captain Brady Tkachuk requested – and received – a trade away from the Senators, and will need to fill the void he leaves both on and off the ice. While Giroux certainly isn’t a new face, his return will undoubtedly help Ottawa as they look to continue their upwards trajectory in the wake of Tkachuk’s departure.

While he’s certainly not the player he once was, Giroux showed last season that he can still be a productive middle-six scorer. He totaled 14 goals and 49 points, staying healthy for all 82 games. It’s unknown at this time what Giroux’s newest contract will cost, but one has to assume it will contain performance bonuses.