Larry Henry Jr
Claude Giroux’s time with the Philadelphia Flyers has come to an end.
The Flyers traded Giroux on Saturday to the Florida Panthers, ending a 15-year stay for the veteran center in Philadelphia. Philadelphia also traded Connor Bunnaman, German Rubtsov and their fifth round pick in 2024 to the Panthers for forward Owen Tippett, a first round pick in 2024 and a third round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Always our Captain.
Always a Philly legend.
Always a Flyer.Thank You, @28CGiroux. pic.twitter.com/A5aUO1QIy3
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 20, 2022
“Any day that you trade your captain is a tough day, and with how much Claude has meant to this organization and how he has represented himself for 15 years, makes it all that more difficult to say goodbye,” Flyers President and GM Chuck Fletcher said. “Claude is one of the best players to ever wear a Flyer uniform. We’re very excited to have Owen join our team. He is a young forward who already has NHL experience and will bring power, speed and skill to our group. He is someone we expect to fit into our lineup immediately.”
Giroux spent the last 10 seasons as the Flyers team captain and is the franchise’s longest serving captain in history in both length of time and with 715 games played wearing the “C”. He ranks second in Flyers history in points (900), assists (609), games played (1,000) and is the Flyers all-time leader in overtime goals (11) and power-play points (339).
Bunnaman has spent the last four seasons in the Flyers organization split between the Flyers and the club’s AHL affiliate, Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He recorded three points in 54 games for the Flyers and 54 points in 147 games for the Phantoms.
Rubtsov was selected by the Flyers in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and has played parts of three seasons with the organization. He spent a majority of his time with the Phantoms where he recorded 29 points in 93 games and appeared in four games for the Flyers.
Tippett has recorded 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) in 94 regular season games in parts of three seasons with the Panthers. He spent his first full season in the NHL in 2020-21 with Florida, totaling seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 45 regular season games.
The Flyers face the New York Islanders on Sunday.
You can follow Larry Henry on Twitter (@lhenry019) and e-mail him at [email protected].
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