The Claude Giroux era is over in Philadelphia.
The captain was traded to the Panthers, just two days after he hit yet another career milestone.
Last week, he played his 1,000th game with the Flyers, becoming only the second player to do so in franchise history and the 71st player in league history to play 1,000 games with one club.
Giroux’s place among the Flyers’ all-time greats has been cemented for some time. He ranks second in games, points and assists, and eighth in goals scored. He had been the team’s captain for nearly a decade, the longest tenure for any Flyers player. He was the face of the franchise, but also its heart, soul and engine.
It's not a debatable point that Giroux is one of the best Flyers ever. The question is where does he rank all-time?
For all of his individual accomplishments, he has not had a great deal of postseason success. In fact, the Flyers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010 was the only time during his career the team even made it beyond the second round of the playoffs.
We asked a number of broadcasters and former Flyers where they believe Giroux stands in the pecking order of the franchise's elite.
Brian Boucher — 13-year NHL veteran, played three seasons with Giroux
For me, he’s No. 5, behind Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent, Eric Lindros and Bill Barber.
Why?
Longevity and point production. Never won the big one but so haven’t a lot of guys.
The fact he was homegrown and stayed here as long as he did means something to me to crack top five.
Al Morganti — NBC Sports Philadelphia analyst, former Flyers beat writer
It’s really interesting trying to place Giroux among the all-time greats because the playoff success hasn’t been there, the Stanley Cup championship.
There’s no doubt you’re behind the guys that won the Cups — the Clarkes, the Barbers, Bernie Parent — but I’d put him just that one notch below because of the length of time he’s been here.
He’s been the captain and the fact they haven’t had that goaltending throughout his career, I’d put him right behind all those guys that have their names in the rafters, except Eric Lindros. Despite the fact that Eric’s in the Hall of Fame, as far as impact with the Flyers, I think that Giroux is going to go just ahead of Lindros.
Keith Jones — Flyers winger 1998-2000, Flyers/NHL analyst
He’s in the top five, that’s for sure. There's no doubt about that. Giroux has had an incredible influence on the Flyers' franchise.
He’s second all-time in points to Clarke, he has done amazing things, his production has been consistent, it’s been at the top since he arrived in the NHL. He has gone head to head with some of the best players in the game, including Sidney Crosby, on numerous occasions.
Giroux has had an incredible influence on the young players that have been brought into the organization. He has pretty much done it all except win a Stanley Cup; that’s why he’ll stay in the top five, not in the top two.
You've got to give some of those guys who have won Stanley Cup rings the edge ahead of him.
Bill Clement — Flyers center 1971-1975, longtime NHL broadcaster
No.1, Bobby Clarke — Nobody has come close to Clarke.
No. 2, Bernie Parent — Two Conn Smythe trophies. He was at his best when it counted most.
No. 3, Eric Lindros — A Hart Trophy winner and able to do things with his power that may never be equaled.
No. 4, Claude Giroux — His offensive numbers say a lot. His faceoff prowess is among the best ever.
Jim Jackson — 26th season as Flyers TV play-by-play announcer
If you look at the numbers, there’s no doubt Giroux is right there among the top four or five Flyers of all-time. Numbers-wise, he’s second to Clarke in just about every category. Longest-serving captain in franchise history, his durability has been amazing, he hasn’t missed a game due to injury in about five years.
But it’s much more than the numbers when you’re talking about Giroux. His will to win, even when it comes to playing cards. He’s also come through in the clutch a lot for this team.
The only thing he hasn’t covered is, of course, a Stanley Cup. And that’s big, that’s why the players who won the two Cups back in the 1970s rate higher. That’s the way it is in sports — it’s a results-oriented business.
Since he has been captain of the Flyers, they really haven’t gone on a long run. Some people will hold that against him.
But as far as I’m concerned, he’s on any Mount Rushmore of Flyers greats because of the length of his career, his excellence throughout a decade and a half in the orange and black.
I know it’s been a lot of fun trying to describe all the plays that he’s come up with over the course of his Flyers career.
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