Claude Giroux was drafted by the Flyers in 2006, made his debut a year later, went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010 and was named team captain in 2013.
As far as recent Philly athletes go, he’s had some legit success over a pretty long tenure.
But that hasn’t made him immune from trade speculation.
This week, Giroux was asked about the possibility of being shipped out of Philly, after the club missed the playoffs for the second time in three years. The 29-year-old wasn’t much for entertaining the idea.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” he said, per CSN Philly. “I’ve been in Philly for nine years and I don’t plan on leaving.
“Like I said, it’s not for me to make those decisions and I’m not leaving.
According to CSN Philly sources, GM Ron Hextall has “no intention” of trading Giroux or any of the team’s core members (Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn were the players mentioned).
Furthermore, Giroux has five years left on an eight-year, $66.2 million deal -- one that carries a hefty $8.275M cap hit -- and is armed with a no-movement clause.
Which begs the question -- why is this question being asked?
Well, one has to wonder if Philly’s a tad concerned about Giroux moving forward. He turns 30 next season, and his offensive production has declined in four consecutive seasons. It’s also fair to say the Flyers’ future lies with a promising young core of Ivan Provorov, Shayne Gostisbehere, Travis Konecny, Samuel Morin, Travis Sanheim, Scott Laughton, Robert Hagg -- all of whom are still on their entry-level deals.
Provorov, Gostisbehere and Konecny have emerged as full-time NHLers already. When the rest do, it may be time to signal a changing of the guard -- and there’s no telling where Giroux’s trade value would be at that point.
But that conversation might just be that -- conversation. Because it sure doesn’t sound like he’s going anywhere soon.