Will Claude Giroux stay or will he go? Fans of the Senators and Flyers want to know

Ottawa Senators Claude Giroux during practice in Ottawa, April 17, 2026 Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIA

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Will it be no place like home or Philadelphia Freedom for Claude Giroux?

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Fans of the Ottawa Senators are waiting with bated breath.

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Friday afternoon was a roller-coaster ride for fans of the Senators when reports on social media indicated that the 38-year-old Giroux was headed for a reunion with Philadelphia, a city where he spent 15 years of his incredible career and suited up for 1,000 games.

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Not so fast; sources close to Giroux told the Ottawa Citizen late Friday that “he hasn’t made his decision yet” on where he’s headed. That doesn’t mean that Giroux won’t end up in Philly when all is said and done, but neither his camp nor the Flyers have declared that he is across the finish line.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have also spoken with Giroux’s camp and remain keenly interested, while the Edmonton Oilers made a pitch, but well-respected Sportsnet columnist Mark Spector says they’re no longer involved.

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The Flyers and Senators are both in the mix. Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, stated on July 1 that the Senators have an offer on the table to bring Giroux back and the door remains wide open for his return.

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After spending the last four seasons with the Senators, it feels like Giroux has a foot out the door, and the sense in league circles is a return to the Flyers is inevitable. The belief is Giroux wants to take some time to make his decision because this will likely be his final season in the NHL.

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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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But Philadelphia general manager Daniel Briere needs some time as well.

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He was gritty during his NHL playing career, but Briere flexed his front office muscle on Friday by signing restricted free agent Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks to a whopping $90 million U.S. offer sheet.

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“The Philadelphia Flyers have tendered an offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks centre Leo Carlsson,” Briere said in a statement. “The offer is a five-year contract worth an average annual value (AAV) of $18M, which would require four of the Flyers’ first-round draft picks in each of the next four seasons as compensation.”

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The Flyers have to wait to see if the Ducks match before determining where Giroux fits in all of this. Anaheim has seven days to decide. The Flyers have $30 million in cap space, but have to sign forward Trevor Zegras and defenceman Jamie Drysdale, who are both RFA’s, and they’ve opened themselves up to retribution in the market.

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Giroux is a former teammate of Briere and is the club’s all-time leading scorer with 291 goals, 609 assists and 900 points in his career in Philly. Giroux is beloved in Philadelphia. A return to the Flyers makes a lot of sense for Giroux, but it would be tough for fans of the Senators to swallow the news.