With July 1st quickly approaching, the clock is now ticking louder on what many assumed would be an easy decision for the Ottawa Senators: re-signing veteran winger Claude Giroux. Three years ago, bringing 'G' home was a major win for the franchise. Giroux added credibility, leadership, and real production to a young team trying to learn how to win.

But as free agency looms and a new contract has yet to be signed, it’s more than fair to ask: if this is the easy signing some believed it would be, why hasn’t it happened yet?

Behind the scenes, it’s highly likely that Giroux is already giving some thought to a provisional list of potential Plan B destinations. This close to July 1st, he has to be, just as a precaution for now. But with the market opening in two weeks, it’s not hard to imagine things getting serious on that front very soon.

Giroux remains a valuable piece for any NHL roster. Even at 37, he’s reliable, experienced, and still highly effective. But the numbers from last season start to paint a different picture of where he now fits into Ottawa's lineup compared to his status on arrival three years ago.

Giroux’s 15-goal, 50-point campaign in 2024-25 was a stark contrast to his 35-goal, 79-point season in 2022-23. It's also his lowest production since his sophomore year in 2008–09. 

As an aside, when measuring these past three seasons, there must be at least a small part of Giroux that regrets not re-signing with the Florida Panthers instead, knowing he could have been part of their incredible run to three straight Cup finals. No one can predict the future, of course, but it may feed into a feeling of missed opportunity, resulting in an even bigger desire to win a Cup before he's through.

If Giroux’s ask is north of $5 million per year or stretches to two years or more, that’s where the Senators start to get shy on pulling the trigger. Ottawa’s cap space is likely to be tight, even with teams getting a raise in their allowance this fall. Every dollar matters, especially with the team still trying to shore up holes on defense and up front.

Sentiment can’t override strategy, and as hard as it might be to let go of a fan favorite, management has to draw a line.

No one’s saying that will be easy. Giroux’s ties to the region are deep. He’s lived in Ottawa since he was a teenager. Even during his long run in Philadelphia, he returned to Ottawa every summer. This is home. And yet, the longer the silence stretches, the more real the possibility becomes that another team could enter the picture.

Take, for example, the Montreal Canadiens. Giroux would fit in as a mentor for a younger Montreal squad just as beautifully as he has here. That’s a fan base that loves its French-speaking players, and Giroux grew up a devoted, French-speaking Habs fan. He lived in Hearst, Ontario, which has a higher percentage of French-speaking people than Montreal. The Canadiens also have the unique attraction of being the closest NHL team to Ottawa, which has, again, been home for the Girouxs for the past 23 years.

There’s also the possibility that Giroux, a golf fanatic, would embrace somewhere warm. Ottawa may be home, but three winters back in Canada is enough to cure anyone’s homesickness. 

This isn’t to say Giroux wants to leave, or that the Senators are out on him. He still fits a need in Ottawa – a steady, smart, experienced veteran who likes the team and the city.

But there's not much sand left in the hourglass before other teams start courting Giroux. In the meantime, if his ask in Ottawa is too high, or the term stretches beyond what’s reasonable, then both sides may have to accept that G’s time as a Senator, while memorable, may have run its course.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

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