The Flyers have the correct mentality about a potential Claude Giroux trade

There were rumors at the NHL Draft on Saturday that the Flyers and Montreal Canadiens were in trade talks for Claude Giroux. TSN’s Bob McKenzie heard those rumors and got curious. While there was nothing really there, McKenzie went on the radio this morning and discussed the general idea of the Flyers moving Giroux.

To make a long story short, the Flyers aren’t seriously considering a move right now, and Giroux has a no-movement clause in his contract anyhow. That’s not to say, however, there couldn’t be a deal at some point in the relatively near future.

Here’s McKenzie speaking today on TSN 690, via Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports:

“They did say that there have been a couple of calls recently from teams asking just, ‘Is he available? Would he be available? Would they consider going down that road?’ And the Flyer answer is very simple: A) He’s got a no-move clause, B) We’ll obviously listen.

“Because at some point in time – and again, you pointed out the numbers. The contact is not favorable. The output lately has not been favorable. That’s not to say it couldn’t return to favorable because he’s a hell of a hockey player, although he’s battled a lot of injuries over the last number of years, which has contributed probably to the lower numbers as well.

“But at some point in time here in the next little while, the Philadelphia Flyer bucket of really good young players is filling up at an astonishing rate – especially on the blueline. ... “Now, at some point you’ve got to start turning those veteran players over and sort of giving the younger kids the reigns. I don’t think the Flyers are quite at that point right yet, but they’re going to be at some point. So there’s going to be teams along the way that are going to keep an eye on the Flyers and find out whether a Giroux or a Voracek or a Simmonds – the Flyers might be in a position where they turn those people over.

While the idea of trading Claude Giroux initially sparks some pretty negative emotions, it’s true that the Flyers should always be listening. This is the right perspective for Ron Hextall to have.

The points McKenzie makes here regarding Giroux’s production are completely valid, even if injuries have played a part. And even if Giroux does rebound back to form in the next year or two, there is certainly a point where his $8.275 million cap hit is going to get cumbersome.

That’s just the reality of the situation, and it’s going to get even tougher as the young kids coming up hit the ends of their entry-level deals. Unless they are all busts (in which case we have much bigger concerns), some of these young guys are going to get paid in the coming years. The Flyers will need room to make that happen.

Ultimately, it’s possible that the Flyers never actually get enough value in return for a trade of Claude Giroux. But Ron Hextall would be an idiot not to listen to offers, even if he never does wind up trading Giroux.