Senators need to make a decision on Claude Giroux

One of the rising teams in the NHL needs to be smart about what to do with an aging veteran.

The Ottawa Senators made significant strides last season, finally qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in eight years. However, as they continue to progress, they aim to be smart with their money while also competing for a playoff spot.

That leads to the Giroux situation, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The former Philadelphia Flyer is at the end of the three-year contract he signed with the Sens in July 2022, and though his numbers aren’t quite the same as they were a few years ago, Giroux’s veteran presence and natural goal-scoring ability can be useful for Ottawa as the team moves forward, if the Sens want to keep him around.

On Monday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Brent Wallace of the Coming in Hot podcast joined Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk to discuss what future, if any, there is between Giroux and the Senators.

Brent Wallace: We thought that there would be something done already. They’re talking about negotiations. I don’t know, Frank, if you’ve heard anything, but I’m hearing [that] he wants just a one-year deal. I just don’t know where it is. Now, as we get two weeks here to free agency, I think he’s going to go to market.

Frank Seravalli: So, if he wants just a one-year deal – can I ask a stupid question? How hard could this possibly be to solve if you’re the Ottawa Senators? 

Brent:  Well, that’s the argument. So then the question is, well, do they need something different in their top six if it’s not Claude Giroux? Keep in mind, he was the best face-off guy in the league last year. He had a great playoff, but they need to find a way to maybe find some speed up front. Or is it younger? They also have David Perron in their top six. There’s just a way they’ve got to try and figure something out. Claude Giroux is a big piece of whatever that puzzle is.

One last thing. We’ve heard this from Michael Andlauer, the Senators’ owner, a week ago. They’re not a cap team as much as they are a budget team at the moment, and they’re not going to be spending way out of whack to get to the [$95.5] million cap space.

You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…