Flyers, Giroux agree to monster 8-year extension

The three-ring offseason circus has just staked out its final plot upon which the spotlight can rest.

The Philadelphia Flyers made it official on Friday, providing team captain Claude Giroux with a monumental new contract, effectively making him the sole bedrock upon which the club will build their distant future.

It's an eight-year extension which, according to multiple sources including CSNPhilly.com, will pay the 25-year-old $66.2 million for the duration. Additional reports cite a full no-movement clause was included.

“We are pleased to announce that we have agreed to an eight-year contract extension with Claude Giroux,” Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said. “Claude is a high-quality young man that over the past few years has blossomed into our best player and also one of the top players in the league. We look forward to more and better things to come from Claude over the next number of years as we try to achieve our goal of becoming a championship team.”

Giroux was due $5 million for the upcoming season before he was set to become a restricted free agent next July.

“I’m very excited.  I’ve been able to play with the organization for five years…it’s been unbelievable, the fans are always expecting great things.  So just to be a part of that, it’s a really great feeling," Giroux admitted.

But in the wake of the Pittsburgh Penguins locking down Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang to long-term deals over the last few months, it was inevitable that the Flyers' franchise cornerstone for the time being would be extended in similar fashion.


Giroux did not enjoy a breakout season during the truncated 2013 schedule, his first as captain after Chris Pronger was forced to give it up. He led the club in assists (34) and points (47), while ranking third in goals (13), but tied for sixth-worst on the club at minus-7.

Nonetheless, he ranked first among all centers in the NHL by winning 648 faceoffs while ending the year at 54.5 percent efficiency.

"It’s a great honor to have that kind of contract; it shows the kind of trust they have in me. I will do the best not to let them down," Giroux said.

In 333 regular-season appearances over the last five seasons, Giroux has totaled 91 goals and 290 points, contributing 21 goals and 55 points in 50 playoff trials.

Never ones to pass up a shot at spending money for those deemed worthy in the moment, Giroux's deal is quite the loud echo of the mega-contracts handed out at one time to both Jeff Carter and Mike Richards several years back.