It’s no secret that this year has been a complete and utter disaster when it comes to the Philadelphia Flyers. AV was fired, they’ve gone on a 10 game losing streak, now a 9 game losing streak, injuries just don’t seem to stop, and it feels like a never ending season that just keeps getting worse and worse.
When a season like this happens just about everyone says let’s blow up the whole thing and trade everyone and build from the ground up. Look I get it, for the first time in my 26 years of being a Flyers fan I watch this team and feel like they are hopeless and we’re just going to be stuck in mediocrity for the rest of time or at least until Comcast sells the team. Saying that, I am really trying my hardest to look on the bright side here and what this team could end up being in the next few years.
A great team has great leadership and a lot of people have questioned that area for the Flyers for years. Claude Giroux has been the most under appreciated athlete in Philadelphia Sports history. The man has spent his entire career in Philadelphia and has given his blood, sweat, and tears for this organization only for them to screw things up. Everyone knows Giroux is on the last year of his contract and is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. A struggling team with a high profile player on an expiring contract means his name is going to come up in trade talks like crazy until the trade deadline. That is what’s currently happening right now, Giroux’s name has been all over the trade rumors with a lot of teams showing interest as they should be.
I will be the first to say that if there is one Philadelphia athlete that deserves to be traded to a contender to go try and win a championship it is Claude Giroux. He has been a top player in the NHL for a decade and the man deserves a chance at a Cup. Now, having said all that in my opinion the Flyers should not trade Giroux for any reason.
“Oh my god Walsh you’re an idiot.” “This guy sucks!” “He clearly can’t lead this team.” “Why even read this garbage.”
There I beat all you idiots to the stupid comments I will probably get on this blog. So before you freak out hear me out on this one. Too often in sports do guys move around or get traded throughout their career and I understand it is a business and it happens. At the same time, there are some guys who it should never happen to. Sidney Crosby will never not be a Penguin, Alex Ovechkin will never not be a Capital, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Towes will never not be Chicago Blackhawks. Claude Giroux should be in this same category whether you like it or not.
Giroux is an All Time Flyers great and will 1000% be inducted into their Hall of Fame. He is already approaching Bobby Clarke on a few of the all time records and he deserves a chance to get his name at the top of the Flyers all time leaderboard. At 34 years old who knows how much time he really has left but his play is anything but declining. Sure you could trade him and get a few draft picks or you could do the smart thing and re-sign him to one last deal let him help develop the young guys we have coming up and give him the chance to be apart of a Stanley Cup team here in Philadelphia.
No I am not saying we are that close to a Stanley Cup but if there is one guy who should be here to see it through it is Claude Giroux. He has been here for 15 years and has seen just about everything it is time that we get back to the days where franchise players stay with one franchise for their entire career. Even with a trade you aren’t going to get the value that you should for Giroux and let’s be honest do we really think the draft picks we might get in return are really going to pan out for us?
This team will never commit to a full on rebuild so why trade away the guy that has been here through thick and thin just because you might be able to get some decent draft picks. Im sure there will be plenty of people out there that will hate this take but I don’t really give a shit. Claude Giroux should spend the rest of his career with the Philadelphia Flyers and if they decide to trade him it will be a damn shame.
-Walsh