At the beginning of the offseason, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Claude Giroux would be re-signing with the Ottawa Senators. However, with free agency just two days away, it no longer seems like the done deal fans expected. Pierre LeBrun recently tweeted that Giroux is still weighing his options, and it now appears more likely that he will head to free agency.
My sense when it comes to pending UFA Claude Giroux is that he's still weighing all his options right now. Taking a patient approach. Likely headed to the UFA market next week while keeping the door open to Ottawa.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 26, 2026
Last season, Giroux recorded 14 goals and 35 assists while continuing to be an excellent defensive forward. He's someone the Senators can rely on late in games to win crucial faceoffs. Giroux has also missed just one game during his four seasons with the Senators and has consistently provided much-needed offense along the way. So why would the Senators consider moving on? Following the NHL Draft, Steve Staios said during his press conference that he remains "very interested" in bringing Giroux back. Has something changed?
The Senators now have a logjam of depth forwards, especially after the recent and somewhat puzzling addition of Andre Burakovsky. On top of that, the team may still be looking to add an impact forward to its top six. In reality, however, Giroux shouldn't be the player the Senators move on from because he still provides so much value. Yes, he is 38 years old, but he continues to contribute more than several players currently on Ottawa's roster.
As previously featured on SenShot, our projection for Giroux's next contract has him earning a $2 million base salary with an additional $1 million in performance bonuses. That would be nearly identical to the deal he signed last season, which included $250,000 bonuses for reaching 20, 40, and 60 games played, along with another $250,000 tied to both the playoffs and 50 games played. If the issue is that Giroux is seeking more money, the Senators do have some additional cap flexibility. However, if they're still pursuing a top-six upgrade, they'll need to make the most of every dollar available.
Giroux's impact on the Senators cannot be overstated. Especially with the departure of Brady Tkachuk, the team could use his leadership now more than ever. It's fair to assume that Ottawa remains Giroux's preferred destination, given that his family is here. However, if the Senators choose not to offer him a contract and he has an opportunity to chase a Stanley Cup elsewhere, it would be hard to argue that he hasn't earned that chance.
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