Claude Giroux realizes that he had made a sad mistake
The Florida Panthers and the Philadelphia Flyers were involved in one of the most significant moves of the most recent NHL trade deadline.
The Panthers received Giroux, Connor Bunnaman, German Rubtsov and a 5th round pick in 2024.
In exchange, the Flyers acquired: young winger Owen Tippett, a first round pick in 2024 and a third round pick in 2023.
The 35-year-old veteran chose (himself) to be traded to Florida, precisely because he absolutely wants to win a Stanley Cup and he knows he doesn't have many opportunities left.
The problem? He decided to leave the Philadelphia Flyers, to try and win a championship, and he clearly made the wrong choice.
As Marco Normandin (HABSolumentFan) reports, journalists and reputable insiders are unanimous and have just reiterated a major piece of information: the best trade offer made to secure Giroux's services came from the Colorado Avalanche.
However, according to excellent sources like Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, and Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, we learn that Giroux refused to go to Colorado and instead chose to be traded to the Florida Panthers.
Out of respect for one of the greats in their history, the Flyers agreed to trade Giroux to Florida. Imagine if Claude Giroux had chosen the Colorado Avalanche instead.
With the Panthers eliminated, Nathan MacKinnon's team is just one win away from the Western Conference Finals.
Giroux's decision could come back to haunt him for a long time, especially if the Avalanche win the 2022 championship.
Ps: if Giroux had chosen Colorado instead, the Artturi Lehkonen trade (between Kent Hughes and Joe Sakic) probably never would have happened, because Justin Barron was involved in the Avalanche's offer to the Flyers for Claude Giroux (per Frank Seravalli)
| POLL | ||
Will the Avs make Giroux pay and win the Cup? | ||
| Yes | 247 | 68 % |
| No | 116 | 32 % |
| List of polls | ||
