Not long after Claude Giroux was traded to the Florida Panthers on Saturday night, some of the top people in the Flyers organization praised the longtime captain for his 15 years of service.
“It’s impossible to put into words just how much Claude Giroux has meant to the Philadelphia Flyers organization,’’ said Flyers governor Dave Scott. “He is the longest serving captain in Flyers history, only the second Flyer to play 1,000 games in the orange and black, and a seven-time All-Star, but all of that still doesn’t fully capture what he has meant to this city and this proud franchise.’’
Like all veteran followers of the Flyers, Scott wishes Giroux well in the next chapter of his career but it was still difficult to say goodbye.
“This is a difficult, bittersweet day, but we are excited to watch Claude compete in the playoffs for Florida this year,’’ Scott said, “and there is no question that Claude will always be a Flyer.”
General manager Chuck Fletcher said it wasn’t easy trading away one of the best players in the history of the franchise.
“This was certainly one of the most difficult decisions we have had to make for our team as we move forward without our captain,” Flethcer said. “Flyers fans have seen Claude grow from a talented young man to an exceptional leader for his entire career with the organization. Claude’s skill level is only surpassed by his level of compete each and every day, whether it was practice or a game. As successful as he was on the ice, Claude’s dedication off the ice as an ambassador in the community and role model embodies the highest of standards that define the Philadelphia Flyers. He will forever remain a special part of the Flyers family, and we wish Claude and his family nothing but the best as he continues his career.”
Giroux was traded to the Panthers, along with forwards Connor Bunnaman, German Rubtsov and the Flyers’ fifth round pick in 2024 and the Flyers received forward Owen Tippett, a first round pick in 2024 and a third round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Drafts in return from Florida.
During his remarkable career with the Flyers, Giroux has recorded 291 goals and 609 assists for 900 points in 1000 games in Orange & Black.
Giroux recently appeared in his 1,000th game on Thursday, Mar. 17 to become the second player in team history to play all 1000 games with the Flyers. He was also the 368th player in NHL history to reach that mark, as well as just the 71st player to play 1000 games with the same team.
He ranks second in Flyers history in points (900), assists (609), games played (1,000) and is the Flyers all-time leader in overtime goals (11) and power-play points (339).
On Jan. 15, 2013 he was named the 19th captain in franchise history and has served as the team’s leader longer than any player in Flyers history both in length of time and games played with 715 games wearing the “C”.
During his tenure, Giroux has finished the season leading, or tied for the team lead, in points for eight of the last 11 seasons. He departs the Flyers this season with 18 goals/42 points in 56 games.
Giroux has also appeared in 85 career Stanley Cup Playoff games where he has recorded 25 goals and 48 assists for 73 points, which ranks sixth all-time in Flyers history.
In his first full season with the Flyers in 2009-10, Giroux helped lead the team on their run to the 2010 Stanley Cup Final when he recorded 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 23 games, which included the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Flyers a 4-3 win in Game Three against the Chicago Blackhawks.
During the team’s 2012 first round series vs. Pittsburgh, he recorded 14 points in the six-game series win over the Penguins, which ranks second for most points in a single playoff series and included a six-point outing in Game Two on Apr. 13, 2012 with a hat trick and three assists which is the most points in a playoff game in Flyers history.
Giroux holds the Flyers record for the most Bobby Clarke Trophies as the Flyers most valuable player winning the award five times (2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 & 2018).
He has also won the Gene Hart Memorial Award (2011) as the Flyer who plays with the most “Heart” as voted by the Flyers official fan club, and the Toyota Cup on six occasions which is awarded for the most accumulated points for being named “Star of the Game” (2012-16 & 2018).
During the 2013-14 season, Giroux recorded 86 points (28g-58a) to lead the Flyers and following the regular season, he was named a finalist for the NHL’s Hart Trophy as Most Valuable Player.
Giroux’s best season came during the 2017-18 campaign when he recorded 102 points in 82 games to finish second among all players in the NHL. He became just the ninth player in Flyers history to post a 100-point season and the first to have accomplished that feat in over 20 years.
This season, Giroux was named to his seventh NHL All-Star Game, which is tied for the second-most in Flyers history, and became just the third Flyer to earn MVP honors this season joining Wayne Simmonds and Reggie Leach.
