Claude Giroux isn't rushing into retirement, and the Ottawa Senators legend is taking his sweet time deciding where he plays his final season.
Sunday brought word from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen that the belief around the league is Giroux wants time before committing to anything.
The 38 year old is unsigned right now, sitting as a free agent after finishing last season on a $2,000,000 cap hit with the Senators.
Garrioch's reporting adds a heavier layer to this. The expectation is this will likely be Giroux's final season in the NHL.
Bruce Garrioch: The belief is Claude Giroux wants to take some time to make his decision because this will likely be his final season in the NHL.
That's a big deal for a player who put up 49 points last season, 14 goals and 35 assists over 82 games, with a plus-20 rating.
He was still producing down the stretch too, picking up 5 points over his last 10 games with Ottawa.
So why the delay? Because a farewell tour isn't something you rush, and Giroux appears to want his last run to actually mean something.
Why Edmonton and Toronto don't fit the profile
If Giroux is holding out for a real contender, that's where things get complicated for a couple of teams tied to his name.
Edmonton finished last season 41-30-11, good for 93 points and 14th overall. Respectable, but not exactly a finished product up front.
Toronto was worse. The Maple Leafs closed at 32-36-14, 78 points, ranked 28th overall in the league.
Neither résumé screams "sign here for one last shot at a Cup," and that's the problem with pairing Giroux's name to either market.
Linking Giroux to Edmonton or Toronto right now feels like wishful thinking dressed up as a rumor.
Shopping for a landing spot at 38 is a lot like house hunting after you've already lived somewhere great. You don't settle for the first open door.
Giroux has earned the right to be picky. GM Steve Staios and the Senators have to be watching this timeline closely, too, since a returning legend still shapes the room either way.
-
Nothing here says Giroux comes back to Ottawa. Nothing says he doesn't. And that's exactly why teams are stuck waiting on a decision nobody wants to force.
Should Claude Giroux return to the Senators for a farewell season instead of chasing a ring elsewhere?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Stan Bowman has made his decision and one Oilers player is reportedly out
