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NHL Trade Talk

NHL Trade Talk: Are The Boston Bruins In On Claude Giroux?

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NHL Trade

With a week to go until the NHL Trade Deadline, are the Boston Bruins delving deeper into the Claude Giroux sweepstakes?

The Bruins were part of a rather jam-packed Scout’s Row at the Philadelphia Flyers’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night and an NHL source has confirmed to Boston Hockey Now that this was not the first time in recent weeks that the Bruins have had a bird dog at a Flyers game.

 

 

It’s no secret that Boston Bruins have been scouring the NHL trade market for a second-line center since longtime Bruins pivot David Krejci went home to the Czech Republic. It’s also no small secret that, as our compadres at Colorado Hockey Now have been reporting, the Colorado Avalanche have and continue to be the frontrunners for Giroux ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline. A week ago though, Sportsnet NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman speculated that the Bruins were at least doing their due diligence on the Claude Giroux that is in the final season of an eight-year contract that carried a $8.2 million cap hit.

“I don’t know about Colorado in this one. I have a feeling Colorado — I still think they’re around on this one — but I wonder if they’re looking elsewhere,” Friedman said. “I think Colorado is up to something, trying to do something pretty big. I think they look at it as this is their year to go for it, and they should. Giroux would definitely be big, but I also kind of wonder if they’ve got some other feelers out there.

“I think Boston’s probably kicked tires on this. I think the Rangers have kicked tires on this. The Rangers, I also think, are going to try something pretty big. I’ve believed for some time now that Florida — if I was placing a wager, and it wouldn’t be a very confident wager because I’m not sure where this is all going to go — Florida might be that team.”

Per our friends at PuckPedia, Giroux has already accumulated $6.3 million cap hit. With $6.3 million cap space the Boston Bruins would be able to handle the price for bringing in Giroux as a playoff rental but what about the trade price. The asking price for Giroux has been rumored to be a first round pick, top prospect close to or already on an NHL roster and another pick or prospect.

Giroux became the second player in Philadelphia Flyers history to reach 900 points with a goal in the loss to the Canadiens Sunday. After the game he was once again asked about the NHL Trade Deadline and if that may have been his last game. Giroux has a no-movement clause but never imagined being in this position. Still he sounded resigned to the fact that a trade is inevitable.

“I mean, I didn’t think I’d be put in a position to make a decision,” said Giroux, who has played parts of 15 seasons with the Flyers. He scored his 900th point Sunday in his 999th career game, all with the Flyers. “It’s probably been the worst year since I’m here. It’s been a tough year — obviously a lot of injuries, but I’m not going to start making excuses. It’s been a long year. I’m not too sure what to say, to be honest, because it’s not the position I want to be in.

“Obviously there’s still some meetings and some things to talk about with the management to see what the game plan is, not just for this year, but for the future,” he added.

Does that immediate future mean a run at the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins?

 

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