Seems like more and more hockey folks and rumor sites are saying there’s a possibility of Claude Giroux being traded to the Panthers for Owen Tippett.
I always try to take the rumor sites with a grain of salt, but when I see guys like Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek report it, there’s a bit more weight behind the claims.
Marek notes that Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher, special assistant Danny Briere, and senior advisors Bill Barber and Dean Lombardi, we’re all in attendance for the AHL game between the Checkers and Flyers’ AHL affiliate, Leigh Valley Phantoms.
Marek goes on to name Owen Tippett specifically as the player Philadelphia has interest in.
This is an interesting development to me…
As Thomas P. Williams points out in his
Broad Street Hockey (SB Nation)article:
“
At 23 years of age, Tippett certainly lies in the category of player that makes sense if the Flyers want to back up their words from earlier this year. GM Chuck Fletcher made it clear that this team is focusing on an “aggressive retool” instead of a full tear-down rebuild, which means acquiring players that are in Tippett’s age range, to give a hearty boost to the current lineup. Now add Tippett to an interesting package involving maybe another prospect — the Panthers have plenty of those younger names like Justin Sourdif, Gregori Denisenko, and Evan Nause — and a high-round draft pick? You got yourself a return to make yourself ponder.
The Panthers do not currently own their first- and second-round draft picks this year, so it might be a matter of getting a better prospect in return for their 2023 first-rounder, pushing the pick down the road.
No one but the Flyers know what this package might look like, but there are certainly some interesting players at play and Tippett is one of them.”
I’m guessing the Cats will have to do what Thomas suggests and put together a package involving Tippett, another prospect and pick for Philadelphia, as a 1-to-1 trade seems like it wouldn’t happen for a Flyers team looking to get as many pieces back to help in their rebuild. I also hope that Florida would call for something besides Giroux (money retained) in the return.
Unless I’m thinking about this wrong, it seems like a good chunk for Florida to give up just for a Giroux rental, no? Don’t get me wrong, adding Giroux gives the Cats more veteran leadership and skill to an already nasty lineup heading into the playoffs.
If they choose to slot him in at center, my guess is everyone gets bumped down a line and Luostarinen is the odd man out - unless Acciari’s rumored trade happens and then Lou moves over to the left side on the 4th line. So the center depth might look something like this:
1. Barkov
2. Giroux
3. Bennett
4. Lundell
If you use him at RW, who gets bumped? Marchy has been playing solid. I like Duclair’s speed/skill heading into the post-season. Reinhart won’t be going anywhere, and Hornqvist does a job that no one else does on this team - so he should stay.
Giroux is currently making $8,275,000 and is a UFA after this season. I would imagine Philly has to retain a big chunk of salary if a deal goes down. Florida doesn’t have room. In 52 games so far, he has 40 points (17G, 23A) and is five games shy of hitting the 1,000 games played mark.
What’s perplexing to me is that Tippett is probably the biggest chip Florida has since there’s no high picks this year and both Knight and Lundell are untouchable. With that in mind, I guess I thought they would have used Tippett (and some kind of package) to target a defenseman and a capable backup. Adding Giroux gives skill/grit and depth upfront, which never hurts come playoff time, but I think majority of people have been hoping for a bit more on the backend (since, like, forever). Is Petteri Lindbholm the solution on the blue line? I don’t know, we’ll get a chance to see his game tonight (he’ll be wearing #40). But one thing is certainly sure, they need a legit backup.
Maybe Zito is satisfied on the blue line, does this Giroux deal and then sends Acciari/package out to bring in a backup? I’d hate to lose Acciari’s grit come playoff time, but if Zito is able to get a lower line guy back in the Giroux trade or some other deal to backfill Acciari, then I say go for it, or just slide Loustarinen over as mentioned above.
I don’t know. This stuff is impossible to predict, but fun to think about. I sound like a broken record, but the defense and blue paint is where Zito needs to focus.
By the way, there’s a game tonight in Buffalo! Knight gets the start. Lomberg placed on IR. It should be a fun one for Reinhart.
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With the deadline a couple weeks away, the Cats have an interesting/fun time coming up…Go Panthers!
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