On Thursday, it was easy to get caught up in the emotions of the closing night Claude Giroux1,000. Play in a Flyers uniform. As of Friday, however, it is inevitable that the future unrestricted free agent in a Florida Panthers from Monday would set the NHL trade deadline. crystal clear that it was only a question of when – not whether – the deal with the Panthers would fall.
As a player with a full No-Movement clause (NMC) in his contract, Giroux has every right to consider as many – or as few – teams as he would have considered giving up the NMC. He also had the right to set the timetable for this.
In this case, Giroux’s list was a list of one: Florida. It was a fact that had been known around the National Hockey League for a few weeks. While it was possible for the player to decide to add other potential destinations – which would have raised the trade price by stimulating competitive trading offers – Giroux and agent Pat Brisson were not obliged to do so.
At the end of the day, hockey is still a business. Claude Giroux looked a bit like Peter Forsberg in 2007, Mats Sundin in 2008, Simon Gagne in the summer of 2010, and John Tavares when the launch of the free agency in 2018 arrived. Each player had the right to consider potential destinations and the best situation for themselves.
The inevitable happened Saturday afternoon: The Flyers traded Giroux, Connor Bunnaman, German Rubtsov and a 2024 fifth-round pick for the Florida Panthers. In return, the Flyers got 23-year-old right-hander Owen Tippett, a conditional 2024 first-round pick and 2023 third-round pick.
Evaluated as hockey trading with the emotion of Giroux’s departure removed, the Flyers had to do their best to negotiate in terms of what Florida General Manager Bill Zito was willing to offer without competing to land Giroux.
Even though it had been a prayer war for Giroux, the flyers could not soon fill the light in the lineup and in the wardrobe. Players of the Giroux caliber – a seven-time NHL All-Star, former Hart Trophy finalist, five-time Bobby Clarke Trophy winner, second in overall score, assists and games played in franchise history – do not come along very often. That’s just the reality.
“Every day you change your captain is a tough day, and with how much Claude has meant for this organization and how he has represented himself for 15 years, it’s all the more difficult to say goodbye. Claude is one of the best Players. To ever wear a flyer uniform, “said Chuck Fletcher, Flyers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager.
It was clear before trading that Tippett would be part of a possible deal for Giroux. The player, who was named American Hockey League Player of the Week a week ago, was suspended in advance of trading from the AHL Charlotte Checkers lineup. Even before that, Tippett’s name often appeared in Giroux-related trade rumors; more than other prospects who were also mentioned in rumors (such as Alexsi Heponiemi).
Selected from Florida with the 10th could be if he maximizes his potential. The 200-foot game remains a work in progress. More consistency is needed by him. Statistically, Tippett has produced 14 goals and 33 points in 94 NHL regular season games along with four points and six Stanley Cup playoff games last year.
As for the tools, Tippett bears some resemblance to Flyers’ right-wing side Wade Allison. Tippett is younger than Allison and has been able to stay healthier in their respective careers so far. Tippett is more polished and is smoother on his skates than Allison, who has a certain “Hartnell Down” like tendency in game action. Both are very good natural shooters. Allison brings a little more in the way of pure on-ice intensity, enjoyment to fight in the grave and throw his weight aggressively around (which unfortunately worked against Allison at times healthily, although he was also exceptionally unhappy in terms of get freakish injuries). There is room for both teams in an NHL organization, especially if they are trying to figure out which player they can trust for the long haul. Incidentally, there is an incredible facial resemblance between the two red-headed players. For now, Allison remains in the AHL with the Phantoms as he returns to playing condition and timing after multiple long-term injury-related absences this season (high ankle sprain, elbow / arm injury, sprained MCL).
Tippett reports directly to the Flyers. He will carry the number 74, as he did with Florida. Tippett and Flyers center / left wing Morgan Frost were teammates on Team Canada at the 2018-19 World Junior Championships. They also played against each other in the Ontario Hockey League and the AHL. It is possible, at some point, that Frost and Tippett will be tried as NHL linemates.
“I’m really excited about this new opportunity to work with a team, build with them and get a fresh start,” said Tippett. “I’m still working on trying to finish my 200-foot game, but overall I think I can bring insult, size and speed into the lineup. I’m really excited to go and meet everyone.”
In terms of the main draft pick compensation received from Giroux Trade, here’s why the first round pick the Flyers received for 2024 is and not earlier.
Florida has already missed a 2022 First Round election. Last Wednesday, the day before Giroux in his 1,000th. Dressed for the Flyers, the Panthers traded their 2023 first-round pick, prospect Ty Smilanic, and a 2022 second-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens for veteran defender Ben Chiarot. So, if Giroux’s 1,000.
The 2024 entry draft is far away. It is also a conditional choice, with the proviso that Florida has the option to give the Flyers their 2025 first-round pick instead of when the 2024 first-round pick lands in the top 10 of the entry draft. However, it should also be noted that first-round picks are valuable assets to keep in their pocket to either use on the road or in a future deal to trade for an NHL roster player. If the Flyers finally use the choice, then it will not be until a few years later that there is a sense of what the organization might have in that player.
Why did the Flyers include Bunnaman and Rubtsov in the trade? Rubtsov, who selected the Flyers in the first round of the 2016 Entry Draft, has struggled strongly over the past six years with injuries, offensive confidence and his corresponding level of assertiveness on the ice, is no longer in the organization’s plans. . He has not played in the NHL at all since a four-game stint in 2019-20. The Bunnaman, who has featured in 54 NHL regular season games for the Flyers plus four games in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, has appeared in 15 games for the Flyers this season and 41 AHL games with the Phantoms. At the NHL level, he played almost exclusively in a fourth-line role.
The divisions of Bunnaman and Rubtsov bring the Flyers down to 46 of a maximum of 50 NHL contracts for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. This opens the door for the Flyers to have slots available for all three under college prospects Bobby Brink, Ronnie Attard and Noah Cates to become pros and sign NHL entry-level contracts before the end of this season.
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