Report: Claude Giroux Targets Colorado Avalanche For 2022 Trade-Deadline Deal

The trade talk around Claude Giroux is starting to get very specific.

On Monday, Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now reported that the preferred landing spot for the current Flyers captain is the Colorado Avalanche. He’d also consider the Minnesota Wild or St. Louis Blues.

I'm told that Claude Giroux has made it known to Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher that Colorado is where he wants to go. If somehow that doesn't work out, Minnesota or St. Louis would be acceptable alternatives @ColHockeyNow

— Adrian Dater (@adater) February 15, 2022

Giroux, of course is in the last year of his current contract, heading for unrestricted free agency. He also has a full no-move clause, which will allow him to control his trade destination. Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher has told the media that Giroux will be given the opportunity to decide his future.

After playing his entire career in the Eastern Conference, it looks like Giroux hopes to step over to the other side. All three teams identified by Dater play in the rough-and-tumble Central Division.

Fitting In With The Avs

The Colorado Avalanche, of course, are a juggernaut. With a record of 17-0-2 so far in 2022, they’ve climbed to the top of the NHL standings in both points (72) and points percentage (.783), heading into Tuesday night’s games. Down the middle, they’ve got a future Hart Trophy winner in Nathan MacKinnon. Their own impending UFA, Nazem Kadri, is having a career year. He leads the Avs and is fourth overall in NHL scoring, with 62 points in 43 games.

The Colorado blue line is anchored by rising young star Cale Makar. And after a so-so start in net, Darcy Kuemper now looks settled in. Since Jan. 1, he’s 10-0-2 with a .933 save percentage and 2.01 goals-against average.

The Avs also feel ready to climb to get to the top of the mountain, so to speak. After second-round eliminations in each of the last three years, they’ve tweaked their roster and their mindset. They’ve made it clear that they aim to go all the way this year.

It’s easy to see why the situation in Colorado would appeal to a player like Giroux. He’s still an intense competitor. But at age 34, he’d be able to slot in as a complimentary forward, playing different roles and stepping in as needed if injuries arise, as he tries to earn his first Stanley Cup.

The Best Of The Rest

As for the Wild — they’re not knocking quite as loudly. Minnesota hasn’t won a playoff round since 2015 but gave Vegas a good scare in a seven-game first-round series last year. GM Bill Guerin has assembled a balanced and exciting roster, and coach Dean Evason has done a masterful job of getting the best out of his players.

But the Wild’s need to win now stems primarily from the fact that they’ll be facing big salary-cap challenges over the next few seasons, following last summer’s buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. The Wild haven’t paid their dues the way the Avalanche have.

In St. Louis, the Blues have suffered a pair of first-round losses since their feel-good run to the Stanley Cup in 2019. Last year, they were swept in the first round by Colorado.

St. Louis has been up-and-down this season. But while the Blues currently sit fourth in the Central with 59th points and are holding a wild-card spot, they’re also 11th overall in the league. They’re also a group that has already shown that it can come together to win in high-stakes situation. This year, their forward group features a revitalized Vladimir Tarasenko, emergent Pavel Buchnevich and Ivan Barbashev and a star-in-the-making in Jordan Kyrou.

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Fitting In

At the 2015 IIHF World Championship in Prague, Giroux and his Flyers teammates Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn were able to look past their ill will toward the Pittsburgh Penguins. Teaming up with Sidney Crosby, Team Canada went undefeated in the tournament and brought home a gold medal.

But moments like that are the exception, not the rule. Considering the many heated battles that have taken place over the years between the Flyers and the Penguins, the Capitals and even the Bruins, it makes sense that Giroux would prefer a landing spot where these isn’t quite so much bad blood.

On the Avalanche, he’d be joining another frequent Team Canada mate, MacKinnon. Former Flyer Nicolas Aube-Kubel has also settled in nicely since being claimed on waivers by Colorado in mid-November. He has 14 points in 34 games and has added some grit to the Avalanche lineup.

On the Blues, of course, Giroux knows the former Flyer Schenn, as well as Team Canada regulars Ryan O’Reilly and Colton Parayko.

On the Wild, the most notable connection might be between Giroux and journeyman center Frederick Gaudreau. The pair share the same agent, Pat Brisson.

Market Rate

A benchmark for 2022 trade deadline pricing was set on Monday. To acquire Tyler Toffoli from the Montreal Canadiens, the Calgary Flames shipped out two draft picks (a first-rounder in 2022 and a fifth-rounder in 2023), along with depth forward Tyler Pitlick — a one-time Flyer — and forward prospect Emil Heineman.

Of course, it’s not apples-to-apples between Toffoli and Giroux.

Both players contribute in all situations, but Toffoli is four years younger, and is primarily a scoring winger with good defensive acumen. Giroux can also play center when needed, is excellent in the face-off circle, and is more of a natural playmaker.

Giroux is also a pure rental, and will likely be looking for a substantial new contract for next season. Toffoli is locked up for another two years at a team-friendly cap hit of $4.25 million.

Now that it’s looking more and more like Giroux will be traded, it will be interesting to see when such a move happens. The longer teams wait, the less salary-cap space they need. But the sooner they can pull the trigger on a deal, the sooner their new arrival can start building chemistry with his teammates ahead of what, it’s hoped, will be a long playoff run.

Giroux is also 13 games away from hitting 1,000 games played with the Flyers. If he sticks around, he’s scheduled to reach that milestone on March 17, four days before the deadline.