The Philadelphia Flyers will not be reuniting with former captain Claude Giroux.
It was reported on Friday afternoon that Giroux would be returning to Philadelphia, but that was never confirmed, as the veteran weighed his options with a few teams in the mix.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman then reported on Monday night that Giroux would be returning not to Philadelphia, but to Ottawa.
He will return to Ottawa, it is getting done https://t.co/LotkjuqKD6
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 7, 2026
Of course, Giroux spent the first 15 years of his career in Philadelphia, finishing with exactly 900 points in 1,000 games played. His final game felt like a goodbye, and it turns out it was one — at least for now.
Giroux then joined the Florida Panthers for a playoff run, but that was before the Cardiac Cats were able to put it all together for their Stanley Cup championships.
That summer, he signed in Ottawa, of which he is from nearby Hearst, on a three-year deal. Giroux stayed there last offseason on a one-year deal, and reportedly was contemplating retirement ahead of this offseason.
He’s giving at least one more kick at the can, though, as Giroux will return for a 20th NHL season, turning 39 in January.
Flyers miss out on reunion with Claude Giroux — for now
The Flyers already have a logjam at forward even before potentially landing Leo Carlsson, so they would’ve had to make some moves to bring in Giroux. And they still might have to if the Ducks don’t match the offer sheet — which they shouldn’t.
Still, bringing Giroux back into the fold would’ve added a veteran presence that is still mighty productive.
Giroux scored 14 goals and added 35 assists for 49 points in 82 games last season. He had nearly identical numbers the year prior, scoring one more goal in one fewer game. He’s been able to stay healthy, missing just that one game in the last four seasons in Ottawa.
The former Flyer could’ve helped fix Philadelphia’s putrid power play, which has been down in the dumps since his first stint in Orange and Black.
So while Giroux weighed his options and seriously considered returning to Philadelphia in free agency, he ultimately ended up staying at his original home in Ottawa.
But that doesn’t mean that Flyers fans should completely give up hope on a reunion.
The Senators traded Brady Tkachuk after getting swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes. They could keep moving forward without their captain, but things can change on a dime in the NHL.
If Ottawa is out of the playoff picture come the trade deadline, and the Flyers are in the hunt, adding a veteran like Giroux could be just what the doctor ordered.
That’s a lot of ifs, but it’s possible.
For now, we’ll wish Claude well up in Ottawa. We don’t yet know when Giroux and the Senators will be playing in Philadelphia next season, but you can be sure that there will be some orange #28 jerseys sprinkled throughout the crowd.
