On Thursday night, Claude Giroud was honored in Philadelphia for his 1,000th NHL game with the Flyers. Game 1001 will be with the Florida Panthers.
The Panthers took another big step in their quest for a deep playoff on Saturday when they acquired the now former Flyers captain in what could be the biggest move to be made before Monday’s NHL trade deadline.
The deal was first reported by NHL insiders Pierre Lebrun (TSN) and Elliott Friedman (Sportsnet).
Philadelphia’s comeback, which includes power forward Owen Tippett, is pretty big.
Florida is also dropping a first-round pick in 2024 and a third-round pick in 2023.
The Panthers handed out their next three first round picks for: Sam Reinhart (2022 Buffalo); Ben Chiaro (2023, Montreal) and 2024.
In addition to Giroud, Florida will receive a 2016 first-round pick from German Rubtsov and a 2016 fourth-round pick from Connor Bannaman. Both are forwards who spent most of their time in the Flyers’ system while playing for the Lehigh Valley AHL. The Panthers will also receive a fifth-round pick in 2024.
Philadelphia will retain 50 percent of Giroud’s $8.275 million annual income.
Florida also retains its remaining prospects such as Maki Samoskevich, a 2021 first-round pick from the University of Michigan, and Grigory Denisenko, a 2018 first-round pick.
Spencer Knight (2019) and Anton Lundell (2020) have never been discussed on the subject of trade.
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Unlike defenseman Ben Chiaro, who was signed in a deal with Montreal on Wednesday night, Giroud will be able to join his new teammates as soon as he can catch a flight to Fort Lauderdale.
The Panthers beat Anaheim 3-0 on Friday night before flying out of Los Angeles International and landing in Fort Lauderdale early Saturday morning.
The team has a training session scheduled for Sunday in Coral Springs, and perhaps Giroud will be there to greet them.
Chiaro is a Canadian citizen who played for a Canadian team, so he needs to get a US work visa. Giroud has one and will be available immediately.
The move of general manager Bill Zito is another firm commitment to the current team.
Giroud, like Chiaro, is a free agent and is likely to leave the club at the end of this season.
The Panthers just hope it happens after the New River boat parade in Fort Lauderdale.
As the deadline approaches Monday, Zito may not be ready.
On Friday night, Panthers star guard Aaron Ekblad injured his right leg, and while Brunett said the injury is not considered permanent, Florida may still be seeking help on the blue line.
As for Giroud, he was considered the most accessible player on the trade market after the Flyers’ debacle this season.
A 15-year NHL veteran, Giroud is a natural center forward who is likely to land on the right side of Florida’s top line alongside Sasha Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe.
In 1,000 games for the Flyers, Giroud scored 900 points — 291 missed goals — and would lead the Panthers to the top six.
Florida could also move Anthony Duclair and Barkov and Giroud to play Sam Bennett and Jonathan Huberdeau on the second line. Or some combination.
Regardless, coach Andrew Brunette and his team now have plenty of options.
And they are all pretty cute.
Giroud, 34, had a total travel ban with the Flyers and could refuse any other deal.
While there were rumors earlier in the season that Giroud wanted to move to Colorado, those rumors were never confirmed.
Word was leaked this week that Florida was his preferred destination, allowing the Panthers to send their 2023 Canadiens first-round pick for Chiaro and send a pack of players to Philadelphia.
For Tippett, the trademark marks the end of a career of ups and downs with the Panthers.
He made his NHL debut shortly after being drafted by Florida in the first round (10th overall) in 2017. He played in seven games and returned to his junior team in Mississauga, Ontario for the remainder of that season, although he did join the AHL. Springfield Thunderbirds after completing his junior season.
In 2018, it was believed that Tippett had a chance to get into the Panthers, but in the end the team eliminated him from the game.
Tippett then turned pro in 2019 and was sent to Springfield with the Panthers trying not to rush him. He had a fantastic season with the T-Birds and was likely called up in February, but a season-ending wrist injury in January cost him that shot.
He made the Panthers last season and ended up playing 42 games, scoring seven goals and 18 points.
Towards the end of last season, Tippett came to his senses playing on the second line with Huberdeau and Bennett. The three looked great together in the playoffs and they started training camp together.
Tippett split his time this season with the Panthers and AHL Charlotte. With the Panthers, he struggled at times, scoring six goals with 14 points in 42 games.
He has been with the Charlotte since he was sent off on February 22, and has played for the Checkers, earning AHL Player of the Week honors by scoring four goals with eight points in four games.
The Panthers kept him out of the game against Providence on Thursday night, expecting the deal to go through by the weekend, and didn’t want to risk injury to him.
In 12 games with the Checkers—most of which were watched by Philadelphia scouts—Tippett scored six goals with 18 points.
As for Giroud, sometimes things go full steam ahead.
Giroud’s first NHL goal came on January 16, 2009 against Thomas Vokoun in a 3-2 win against the Panthers at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise on January 16, 2009.
Michal Repik, David Booth and Brian McCabe (now in the Panthers’ head office) scored for Florida in that win.
“I think scoring a goal in the NHL is the goal of every kid,” Giroud said. “Now that I’ve got rid of it, I can continue to play better.”