In July 2022, the Ottawa Senators made a big splash by signing Claude Giroux to a three-year contract. In three years, Giroux became a fan favorite in Ottawa.
Giroux has recorded 193 points in 245 games as a Senator since being signed. In three years, Giroux has missed just one game. Giroux's veteran leadership and presence has been an important one since joining the Senators. Giroux was a steady player that helped the Senators make the 2025 playoffs.
This Summer, Giroux is an unrestricted free agent at 37 years old. While most Senators fans and the organization want to re-sign Giorux, he could be on his way to being an enemy in the nation's capital.
Giroux is willing to consider signing with Habs if deal can't be done in Ottawa
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen recently reported that the Senators are his top priority this Summer when signing with an NHL team. However, if a deal can't get done in Ottawa, league executives say that Giroux is willing to consider signing with the Montreal Canadiens if they show interest in him on July 1.
Losing Giroux to the hated Canadiens would be a huge gut punch to the Senators and fans. With news like that, a deal for Giroux from the Senators might need to be done quickly. Signing Giroux would be one less problem for the Senators this free agency.
The Canadiens are a team already on the rise after making the playoffs for the first time since 2021. The Canadiens have the 2025 Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson to be a force for years to come. Signing Giroux can elevate Hutson's game even more and make the Canadiens a deeper team.
Giroux's point production has dropped each season he's played in Ottawa. In the 2022-23 season, Giroux recorded 79 points; in the 2023-24 season, Giroux recorded 64 points; in the 2024-25 season, Giroux recorded 50 points.
Having a deal that is fair needs to be done for Giroux with the age he's at and point production dropping in each year. The Senators have over $15 million in cap space after they signed defenseman Tyler Kleven to a two-year extension.
If the Senators don't have to overpay for Giroux, it can help lead them to sign other players in free agency to make the team better. If Giroux demands more money, the Senators might have to consider letting him walk, but considering joining the Canadiens would be a punch to the gut with signing with a rival.
All eyes will be on Giroux this Summer with him signing with a team that can help him win the first Stanley Cup in his career. If the Senators and their fans see Giroux in a red and blue Canadiens jersey, it can make them sick to their stomachs.