If Claude Giroux plays another NHL season, the Ottawa Senators will be his priority

Ottawa Senator Claude Giroux talking to the media at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa Monday. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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When Claude Giroux hitched his wagon to the Ottawa Senators in the summer of 2022, contending for a Stanley Cup on the back nine of his illustrious career seemed like a real possibility.

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It was the perfect fit for player and organization. Giroux, who grew up in Orléans and spent his offseasons in the nation’s capital, could bring his family home. The Senators, hardly ever landing big-name free agents, added a legendary player with a burning desire to win.

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Four years and zero playoff series wins later, Giroux is a pending unrestricted free agent once again.

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The sting of a second consecutive first-round playoff exit is still too fresh for the 38-year-old to contemplate playing another NHL season. However, if he does decide to return, he confirms that signing with the Senators will be his priority.

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“The guys in that locker room, I love spending time with those guys,” Giroux said Monday on locker clean out day. “They make it fun coming to the rink. They definitely keep me young and being around them, I feel really lucky.

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“(I’m going to) spend some time with the kids. I’ve got a lot of things to think about. … I’ll take a few weeks and kind of see what’s next.”

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Giroux turned back the clock for the first two thirds of the 2025-26 season, recording 39 points in 55 games and leading the team with a plus-16 rating. He faded in the final act of the regular season, scoring one non-empty-net goal the rest of the way. Giroux was one of seven forwards to fail to register a point in the sweep against the Carolina Hurricanes.

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General manager Steve Staios has “not closed the door” on signing any of the team’s pending free agents.

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“G’s a special player and a special person,” Staios said. “Talk about experience and going through some hard lessons and having success as a player. He brings that to our group. He brings that leadership. I think he played even better this year than he did last year, so it shows his commitment to his craft, as well.”

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While a new deal for Giroux would undoubtedly be just one season, one of his linemates is eligible to sign a seven-year extension on Canada Day.

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Winger Drake Batherson, coming off a career-high 33 goals, has one year left on an extremely team-friendly deal that pays him $4.98 million per season.

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“It’s something I haven’t thought a lot about, to be honest with you,” said Batherson, who led Ottawa with three goals in the postseason. “We just lost a few (days) ago, but I’m sure my agent and them will talk July 1.”

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Another core player due a significant raise is defenceman Artem Zub. One of the

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“We’re not talking yet about anything, but yes, I like (it) here,” Zub said. “It’s my sixth year here. Every year, we see the team and like everything.”

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One of the more intriguing decisions will be whether the Senators commit to Jordan Spence long term. The