SUNRISE, Fla. - Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito announced today that the Florida Panthers have acquired forwards Claude Giroux, Connor Bunnaman and German Rubtsov as well as a 2024 fifth-round draft selection from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Owen Tippett, a conditional 2024 first-round selection and Florida's 2023 third-round draft pick. Additionally, Philadelphia will retain 50% of Giroux's Standard Player Contract.
Philadelphia will receive the Florida Panthers first-round 2024 selection, unless the pick falls within the top 10. In that condition, Philadelphia will receive Florida's 2025 first-round selection.
Florida Panthers Acquire Forward Claude Giroux from Philadelphia Flyers
Panthers Acquire Flyers Longest-Tenured Captain, Seven-Time NHL All-Star
"Claude has been one of the most complete talents in the National Hockey League for over a decade," said Zito. "He has demonstrated his elite leadership and work ethic during his tenure in Philadelphia and we are thrilled to be able to welcome a player of his caliber to our lineup. Additionally, we are excited to receive Connor and German into our Panthers pipeline and look forward to their growth within our system."
Giroux, 34, has skated in 56 games with Philadelphia in 2021-22, ranking second on the team with 42 points (18-24-42), while leading the Flyers with 12 power-play points. Among NHL skaters that have taken at least 900 faceoffs this season, Giroux ranks third with a 60.9% faceoff win rate.
Philadelphia's longest-tenured captain, Giroux has worn the 'C' for the Flyers for the past 10 seasons. Skating in his 1,000th NHL game on March 17 vs. Nashville, Giroux ranks second all-time in Flyers history for games played, assists (609) and points (900), tallying the eighth-most goals (291). Giroux also holds the Flyers all-time regular-season records in shootout goals (30) and overtime goals (11).
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound native of Hearst, Ontario has logged 73 points (25-48-73) over 85 NHL playoff games with the Flyers, the sixth-most playoff points in Flyers history. The Flyers made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in eight of his 14 full seasons with the club, including a trip to the 2010 Stanley Cup Final where he scored the overtime goal in Game 3. His six-point (3-3-6) performance in Game 2 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Conference Quarterfinals at Pittsburgh stands as the most points by a Flyers skater in one playoff game in franchise history.
Giroux led Philadelphia in points in eight of the past 11 seasons, amassing over 85 points four times. During the 2017-18 season, he tied for the league lead with 68 assists and ranked second with 102 points (34-68-102). Since the 2010-11 season, Giroux ranks second among league skaters with 560 assists and his 826 points (266-560-826) sit fourth. He has been voted to the NHL All-Star Game seven times and was named All-Star Game MVP this year in Las Vegas.
On the international stage, Giroux has earned gold medals representing Canada at the World Cup of Hockey (2016), IIHF World Championship (2015), and IIHF World Junior Championship (2008). He also earned a Silver Medal at the IIHF World Championship in 2016.
Prior to his professional career, Giroux amassed 321 points (125-196-321) over 187 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) games from 2005-06 to 2007-08 with the Gatineau Olympiques. He was named to the CHL First All-Star after leading Gatineau to their most recent championship in 2007-08, pacing all league skaters with 51 points (17-34-51) over 19 playoff games.
Giroux was originally selected by the Flyers in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft.
Bunnaman, 23, has skated in 15 games with Philadelphia in 2021-22. Over 54 NHL games with the Flyers from 2019-2020 to 2021-22, he has produced three points (1-2-3) and eight penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 207-pound native of Guelph, Ontario has registered 54 points (32-22-54) over 147 career American Hockey League (AHL) games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms from 2018-19 to 2021-22.
Bunnaman was originally selected by the Flyers in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft.
Rubtsov, 23, has played in 37 AHL games with Lehigh Valley in 2021-22, recording six points (2-4-6). Over 93 AHL games with the Phantoms from 2018-19 to 2021-22, he has amassed 29 points (10-19-29). The 6-foot-2, 178-pound native of Chekhov, Russia won the Memorial Cup in 2017-18 with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, registering 10 points (5-5-10) over 19 postseason games.
Rubtsov was originally selected by the Flyers in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft.
2022-23 Territory Memberships are available now. Join Panthers Territory to get presale access to the 2023 NHL All-Star game at FLA Live Arena plus other exclusive benefits. Call 954-835-PUCK or visit FloridaPanthers.com/TerritoryMemberships for more information.
The home of the Panthers for the 2021-22 season is FLA Live Arena. Download our exclusive app for mobile ticket entry, cashless ordering and an unforgettable fan experience.
