It appears as though Claude Giroux has made his decision on whether he will stick with the team or waive his full no-move clause and be traded to a contender. Giroux has listed three teams that he wants to go to, the Colorado Avalanche first and foremost, but he would also be willing to go to the Minnesota Wild or St. Louis Blues.

What’s with the love for the Central Division? Maybe he wants to experience a playoff push in the Western Conference, and those are the most likely contenders that would be willing to add him. All three teams could use a centerman of Giroux’s caliber, and it may decide who comes out of that division. That alone could be the incentive, as no team wants any of the others getting an upper hand on them.

Giroux hasn’t made it easy for general manager Check Fletcher and the Philadelphia Flyers, but it remains to be seen if the teams he’s willing to go to increases his value or lowers it a bit because the options are limited. I think the latter, as at a minimum, the Avalanche and Wild are looking to make a big splash at the deadline for this year’s playoffs, and there may not be a more suitable contender in need of a number one centre.

NHL

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I will go over possible trade packages for each of the three possible landing spots for Giroux, looking at what players would have to be moved to free up a spot in the lineup and cap space. The Flyers would likely have to retain 30-50 percent of Giroux’s salary or take a bad contract back as well.

 

Colorado Avalanche

Giroux’s most sought-after destination to go this season is the Avalanche, and for good reason. They are on a 19-game point streak (17-0-2) and hold the top spot in the NHL by three points with games in hand. If they manage to land Giroux before the trade deadline, it will likely cost them at least one depth player with potential, a top prospect, and a high pick.

The Avalanche would likely keep the top line of Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Gabriel Landeskog together, so Giroux would be brought in to play on the second line with Nazem Kadri during his career year. The most likely two options to choose between for the Flyers would be either J.T. Compher or Tyson Jost. Compher is more experienced and three years older, but Jost is a former 10th overall pick and has more potential. Both are signed after this season and have played in the bottom-six for the Avalanche this season. If the Flyers are looking to retool, not rebuild, they are most likely looking for players to make an immediate impact unless they plan on flipping a pick to move out a bad contract.

Alex Newhook may be an ask, as he has shown in a much shorter amount of time that he is more impactful than either of the other two. The former 2019 16th overall pick has put up 10 goals and 16 points in 36 games after he transitioned to a full-time NHL role.

As for the prospects, there are a few that should entice the Flyers. The Avalanche have more than enough young talent, and it wouldn’t cripple them too much to use a couple to get a return that will put them over the top. If the Flyers want a defence prospect that is just about as NHL-ready as any defender they have, Justin Barron would be at the top of the list. He is a point-producing defenceman who is a great puck-mover and loves to join the rush. He is currently enjoying success in his first full season in the American Hockey League (AHL), recording 15 points in 30 games.

Injuries have slowed the development of a few Flyers’ prospects like Morgan Frost, Wade Allison, and Tyson Foerster. So, the Flyers are most likely looking for a forward prospect that is close to NHL-ready after being given the time to properly develop. The options on the Avalanche would include Martin Kaut, Dylan Sikura, or even Oskar Olausson.

Kaut is a solid player drafted in the first round of 2018. It is his third consecutive season split between the NHL and the AHL. He is on the cusp of being an NHL-regular, but the Avalanche’s lineup is too deep at the moment. He will be a force on the power play with his passing and shooting ability if he can take the next step.

As for Sikura, he’s dominated everywhere he has played except the NHL. At age 26, time may be running out for him to figure his game out at the highest level, but his numbers again this season show he has nothing left to prove or do in the AHL.