Last summer Claude Giroux signed his one-year deal to remain with the Ottawa Senators, June 30, 24 hours prior to the opening of free agency on July 1. This time around when it came to Giroux extending with the Senators, it was much tougher. The 38-year-old elected to take a little more time to make the “right decision for his family”
There were multiple rumblings, Giroux would eventually land in Philadelphia where he was previously a member of the Flyers for 15 seasons, including 10 as team captain.
“I think for me, my family, was about making sure we make the right decision. It’s a big decision for our family, especially when you got three boys. You want to make sure that you make the right one, and and we feel like we did,” said Giroux in his Zoom call availability Monday.
Adding he wasn’t necessarily gaging the market to see where the best deal was for him.
“I wouldn’t say gage the market because that’s not really what I was doing. I was more looking at options for our families, see what was the best, and you know, at the end of the day, the guys in the locker room, we have a good thing going, and I like I like everybody, the organization,” Giroux explained.
Entering his 20th NHL campaign, his fifth with the Senators, Giroux inked a one-year contract July 7 which carries a $2 million cap hit, with the potential to earn another $3M in bonuses. Bonuses are as follows; $1.5M for playing 10 games, $500,000 at 40 games, the remaining $1M requires team success, $500,000 for the club to make it to the Conference Final and another $500,000 if the Senators are in the Stanley Cup Final.
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Senators general manager Steve Staios opined during his July 1 media availability, he had reached out to Giroux’s camp prior to the NHL trade deadline in March that he wanted to the Ottawa resident to return, and was holding a roster open for his come to fruition.
“I think we’ve stated how much we want him back. We’ve been unwavering in our message to him, offered him a contract as far back as before the trade deadline. He wanted to take a look around in free agency, but hasn’t closed the door to come back to Ottawa. I mean, for us, there’s also a reason why I’m not active today. Obviously, that spot is reserved for him, and I’m eagerly anticipating, waiting to have a conversation with him.”
Giroux recognized his GM’s effort and is excited for the upcoming season, “Me and Steve had some some great conversation. And I was completely honest with him. He was completely honest with me, so I think just that honestly, we’re able to. And it’s not like he was pressuring me to to get it done as quick as possible. We were kind of just evaluating all the scenarios, and at the end of the day, playing here, especially last year, at the end of the second half, we started clicking a little bit more, started playing some better hockey. So it’s just exciting, and you know, want to take that step forward, that the next step, and that’s what we’re gonna do.”
And this upcoming season will feature a different look minus Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.
Juat like everyone, Tkachuk’s trade request took everyone by surprise, but Giroux’s “Spidey senses” were tingling.
“I don’t know, maybe a little bit later during the season. I don’t know. You just don’t think that’s gonna happen. You know, Brady is captain here, and he was he was great in the community, and he he did a lot for for this community. And you just don’t think that kind of stuff, that kind of trade would happen. And obviously, it did.”
When asked if the Tkachuk’s Wingmen podcast may have become a distraction. Giroux admitted he doesn’t listen to podcasts in general and had nevered heard anything about it discussed among Senators players.
Giroux shares belief that the Senators young core are able to lead by example, “I mean Brady’s a big personality, and he brings a lot to the team on and off the ice. So obviously it’s gonna be a different look, a little bit. But saying that, we have a lot of guys, a lot of leadership in the locker room, and some, they’re young guys, so it’s for them to to keep playing the way they they’ve been playing and bring some leadership in the locker room. Could be playing by just doing the right thing by example, it’s got to be a group, a group effort, and I’m excited to do that.”
“I mean those guys, they’re 23, I believe, are around that age. You have Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig. You have “Shabby” (Thomas Chabot) that’s been here for a long time, and Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens. So you have a lot of guys that can bring a little bit of everything, and but you know what? It’s leadership is not about one person. It’s about a lot of guys doing their job, we’re about your game first, and then hopefully the way you’re playing, you’re kind of showing by example what what needs to be done. So we’re all in this together.”
As for filling a specific role next season. Giroux isn’t concerned. The forward remains capable of assisting any of the Senators top three lines, having garnered 14 goals, 35 helpers in 82 games, while still able play important roles on the team’s power play and penalty kill.
“I mean, whatever makes our team the best, I’ll be ready to do that. And you know, you got to be able to adapt. I want to play some good hockey. I don’t want to be up there struggling a little bit, just keep working on your game, keep trying to get better. That’s why we have coaches to tell us our role and tell us what to do out there.”
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