NHL trade drama: Avalanche still in on Claude Giroux Sweepstakes

The Colorado Avalanche are still alive in the NHL trade sweepstakes for Claude Giroux.

Getting late here, and anyone who’s read me over the years knows I need my rest. Insomnia has been a true problem in my life for 25 years now, and I’ve needed powerful medication just to get my eyes closed and my brain shut off. And I need to make sure I don’t use the computer after taking the medication too, otherwise I might say some dumb s*** that gets me in trouble. But before I snooze off, I wanted to get give the best update I can deliver on the situation with Messrs. Giroux.

It’s my understanding that the Avs have an offer in for Giroux, and that they have not been told they’re out of it, despite some reports to the contrary. Giroux was all-but traded to the Florida Panthers by some reports late Thursday night, but my NHL sources indicated that the Avs still thought they had a shot at the 34-year-old Flyers captain and 2022 NHL All-Star Game MVP.

Here’s the other thing regarding the Avalanche though: they are not sweating Giroux’s decision. The feeling is that Giroux might just be extra gravy to a team already good enough to win a third Stanley Cup in team history. The Avs feel they addressed a significant need by adding much more size to the lineup with the acquisitions of Josh Manson and Nico Sturm – who will make his Avs debut Friday in San Jose.

What is the Avalanche latest offer? I don’t know.

I’ve heard the Flyers already turned down an offer of Justin Barron and the Avs’ first-round pick in 2023. If that’s true, I think Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher should immediately be fired, as Barron is going to be a stud D-man in this league for many years. I don’t know if that’s officially the offer.

So, that’s it, really. The Avs would like to add Giroux before the NHL trade deadline, but seemingly on their terms. If they don’t get him, there are some other names on the NHL trade block, like Andrew Copp and Cal Clutterbuck, and maybe Max Domi or Yanni Gourde.

I suspect by the time I wake up tomorrow, we’ll know the answer to whether or not Claude Giroux is a member of the Colorado Avalanche. I’d say it sounds like 25/75, but that’s still enough of a chance to think Friday could be an eventful day.