Today, we take a look at rumours from around the NHL and focus in on the Ottawa Senators. The rumours have to do with one of the veteran forwards, who is without contract for the 2025-26 season. So, let’s dive in, and discuss where these rumours are headed.
Friedman on Claude Giroux/Sens (32TP): "I am going to Claude Giroux right now and saying we want to sign you, we want to lock you up…he doesn't give up at the end of games, he's still got that serious look…You got to win games and he sets the right tone"
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) October 28, 2024
Ottawa Senators Rumours
One of the main reasons that this rumour should cause a stir, is the source. From 32 Thoughts the Podcast, the main guy (who normalized bringing your phone into the shower with you), Elliotte Friedman, had some musing on the Sens veteran forward. Essentially what Friedman was alluding to, was given Claude Giroux‘s productivity, how can you not sign this guy. And, do it now, before he puts up monster numbers, and his stock goes through the roof. That may be a bit of hyperbole for Giroux, who turns 37 in early January, but you get the idea. The salary cap-era causes such penny pinching, and getting Giroux to sign for a hometown discount for example, may be a huge advantage come free agency.
This comes on the heels of Giroux scoring two, in a losing effort versus the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. Moreover, if we go back further than that, he has been on a bit of a heater lately. He’s currently riding a six-game point streak, where he’s tallied five goals and four assists. Furthermore, in three of those games, he has played more than 20-and-a-half minutes. His main line, with Joshua Norris and Drake Batherson has been on fire early on in 2024-25. Batherson especially, who is tied with the Giroux for the team lead in goals (five) and second in points with ten.
Check Out Some Claude Giroux Statistics As a Sen
Going back through his time with the Sens, we all remember the success Giroux had in 2022-23. The line of Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, and he was on fire that season. They clipped along with an xGoals% of 58.8. Tkachuk ended up with what are still career-highs in assists (48) and points (83). In addition, Stutzle had his career-best totals that also still hold up of goals (39) and points (90). Even at the ripe old age of 35, Giroux had his career-mark of 35 tucks.
Aside from the obvious offensive flare, Giroux continues to lead the young players around him. He has been able to bring out the best offensively in those he has played with during his time in Ottawa. Furthermore, he has been a great ambassador in the community. He is, of course, from the area of Northern Ontario originally.
Currently, Giroux sits in the third and final year of his nearly $20 million contract he signed in order to join the club in the summer of 2022. As Friedman is hinting, if Ottawa wants to save some money, on a safe choice to bring back, it might be better to bring pen to paper sooner rather than later. Ottawa is lucky, as all there big name players are under contract already for next season. Assuming the cap goes up, they may be in a position of power into next season’s free agency period. However, the final dollar amount on bringing back Giroux could ultimately be a major factor.
Main Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
