Flyers great Claude Giroux's first foray away from Philadelphia ended in postseason heartbreak this past spring. After he was dealt at the 2022 NHL trade deadline in pursuit of a Stanley Cup, his Florida Panthers were swept in the second round by the unholy machine that is the Tampa Bay Lightning.
And now Giroux, 34, is an unrestricted free agent and still Cup-less.
There was probably some wishful thinking among Flyers fans after the deal, dreams of Giroux winning a Cup in Florida to scratch that championship itch and then returning to Philly to play out his career.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
MORE: Flyers looking to trade for young goal-scorer?
But Giroux is still ring-less, and I'd wager his free agency decision will be impacted heavily by the ability to compete for a Stanley Cup in the next few years.
Which is why the latest team reportedly buzzing around Giroux shouldn't be much of a surprise.
Here's what The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported about the Giroux market with NHL free agency coming in hot:
NHL
"The Panthers are somewhat hamstrung by the cap and whether or not they can find a deal that works for both sides to keep Giroux in South Florida is not guaranteed.
"There are clubs lurking, hoping to have a chance at Giroux, 34, come July 13.
"One of those teams, I’m told, is the Edmonton Oilers. In the event that the Oilers can’t re-sign Evander Kane, I was told over the weekend that the Oilers have internally discussed the merits of trying to sign Giroux. He has played primarily wing the last few years, but also remains a top faceoff guy and still obviously impactful offensively."
Claude wearing orange once again? It would certainly look familiar.
Giroux may be entering his 16th year in the league, but he proved in 2021-22 that he's still a valuable asset on any team, and particularly a team looking to make noise in the postseason.
Giroux scored 65 points in 75 regular-season games last year between Philly and Florida, and then added eight points (three goals, five assists) in 10 playoff games while coming up clutch multiple times for the Panthers in their first-round win over the Caps.
The Oilers are loaded with talent, but so are the defending champion Avalanche. Edmonton needs to keep pace if it wants to compete with the best teams in the West. Think about your three centers being Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Giroux ... or having Giroux racking up goals on dimes from those two all-NHL centers. Either way, it's a scenario no coach wants to think about.
The only reason I can see for Giroux wanting to play elsewhere is the location: Edmonton is multiple time zones over from his roots here in Philly. Maybe a multi-year deal makes that change a little easier, but Giroux has seemed reticent to make a gigantic move this late in his career and with so much already established in his family life — so perhaps a contender in the East is able to keep him around.
In any case, the decision should be fascinating.
NHL free agency opens July 13.