Claude Giroux is inching toward free agency, and the clock is now the biggest thing hanging over the Ottawa Senators.
The Senators’ pending unrestricted free agent still does not have a new contract, and if that changes by Wednesday at noon ET, he’ll be off the market. If it doesn’t, Giroux becomes one of the more interesting veteran names available.
He’s 38 now, but last season showed he still has plenty left to give. In 82 games with Ottawa, Giroux put up 14 goals, 35 assists, 49 points and a plus-20 rating. That’s the kind of production that can help a team looking to add to its top nine without overcommitting long term.
If Ottawa can’t get something done, three teams stand out as possible landing spots.
The Tampa Bay Lightning make sense first. They have a clear need on the right side, with Oliver Bjorkstrand and Corey Perry both expected to hit the market on July 1. Giroux would fit as a short-term answer there, especially on a one-year deal with performance bonuses.
Colorado is another logical fit. The Avalanche recently moved Valeri Nichushkin, Ross Colton and Jack Drury, which opens the door for another forward. Giroux would give them help at a reasonable price on a short-term contract, and the appeal goes beyond roster need: Colorado is expected to be one of the NHL’s top contenders next season.
Then there’s Philadelphia, where the storyline writes itself. A reunion with Giroux would bring him back to the team he spent 15 seasons with from 2007-08 to 2020-21. The Flyers also took a big step forward this past season, which could make Philly a real possibility if Giroux decides he wants another run there.
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Both moves also feed a debate that never seems far from the Senators whenever they start filling in the bottom of the lineup and the crease. Ottawa has tried to balance experience, toughness and stability without boxing itself in long term, and these additions suggest the front office still sees value in that approach even as the rest of the Atlantic keeps making noise with bigger-name business elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Just Lost A Veteran Blue Liner Fans Learned To Trust
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Now Jensen is moving on after a season that ended in March because of injury, and the Senators will feel the loss of a player who had playoff mileage from stops in Washington and Ottawa. His next team expects him to anchor the lower half of the defense and provide leadership in a limited role, which only reinforces how much value Ottawa had in a veteran who understood his job and usually did it without much fuss. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Keep Adding Veteran Depth In A Telling Offseason Move
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For a team that has spent the summer trying to harden its depth chart, the mix of names is notable. Blais offers recent NHL experience, Tomasino brings a first-round pedigree and a track record that suggests there could still be more to tap into, and the other additions help fill out the pipeline as the Senators keep reshaping the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]