An early favourite for Claude Giroux emerges
Rumors have the Ottawa Senators as the front runners to sign pending UFA Claude Giroux this Summer. Giroux is coming off another strong season with 21 goals and 44 assists in 75 games split between the Philadelphia Flyers and Florida Panthers. His season ended in heartbreak when the Panthers were swept in the Second Round of the playoffs by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Former Flyers captain has connections to Ottawa. He bought a home recently in Kanata, Ontario. He played three seasons for the Gatineau Olympiques in the QMJHL. Gatineau is only a short drive across the bridge from Ottawa.
Giroux said Darcy Lowen was his favorite player growing up. Lowen played two seasons for the Ottawa Senators. He had only played 12 career NHL games before the Senators selected him in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft. He played 135 games scoring 4 goals and 12 points. He spent a lot of time in the box racking up 211 penalty minutes during his career.
Giroux would bring a definite upgrade to the Senators top six. One of the Senators many problems this season was they didn't generate enough offence. Ottawa ranked 26th in the league with 2.73 goals per game. He would help out a Senators power play that ranked 20th this season.
Imagine a power play of Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, Drake Batherson, Thomas Chabot and Claude Giroux. It would certainly generate more goals that would hopefully lead to more wins for Sens fans.
| POLL | ||
Will Claude Giroux Sign with the Senators this offseason? | ||
| Yes, makes sense lots of connections | 68 | 37.4 % |
| No, going back to the Flyers | 54 | 29.7 % |
| Nope staying with the Panthers | 60 | 33 % |
| List of polls | ||
