Ottawa Senators sign Claude Giroux to three contract with $6.5 million cap hit

The Ottawa Senators have signed center Claude Giroux to a three year contract with a $6.5 million cap hit.

Giroux has just completed an eight-year contract with an $8.25 million cap hit, a deal he originally signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. He was a first-round pick in 2006 with the Flyers, and he spent 15 seasons with them, playing exactly 1,000 games. He was dealt at the deadline to the Florida Panthers, where he joined the team’s historic regular season, as well as their first series victory since 1996, before they were swept in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Giroux had a solid season overall, with 21 goals and 44 assists for 65 points in 75 games, including 23 points in 18 games with the Panthers. He also scored three goals and five assists for eight points in 10 games in the playoffs.

If Giroux does sign with the Senators, he’ll join what has been a significant overhaul of the team. The Senators have already brought in some big pieces this offseason, trading for Alex DeBrincat at the Draft, and goalie Cam Talbot on Tuesday, as well as offloading Matt Murray’s contract to the Toronto Maple Leafs. They currently have just under $22.5 million in cap space, although they do have a few key restricted free agents to re-sign in Alex Formenton, Josh Norris and Erik Brannstrom.