Claude Giroux on Possible Trade From Flyers: ‘I'm Not Leaving'

VOORHEES, N.J. -- Claude Giroux doesn't anticipate any core member of the Flyers, players that have been here for three of the past five years when the team didn't make the playoffs, being traded this offseason.

And the Flyers' captain made it pretty clear that includes himself.

Giroux has a no-movement clause in his long-term contract.

"When you don't make the playoffs, everything is possible, but at the end of the day, that's not our job, not things we want to focus on," Giroux said. "We have to focus on just getting better."

Giroux, who is 29, goes into the final two games of the season this weekend with just 14 goals -- his fewest during a full season since scoring 16 in 2009-10 -- and 57 points -- fewest since 2009-10 when he had 47.

There's little doubt that offseason hip and abdominal surgery played a huge role in his poor output -- Giroux recently admitted it was a factor -- yet his overall offensive numbers have declined every season for four years.

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He has five years left on his deal that pays him $8.725 million a season. That is a very difficult contract to trade because of the salary cap. Giroux would command a player close to similar value, a top prospect and a draft pick.

Not many teams have players they can move to satisfy the cancelling out or net result of a contract acquired versus one obtained at that figure.

As for himself being traded, nonetheless, Giroux replied: "Ah, I haven't really thought about it. I've been in Philly for nine years and I don't plan on leaving. Like I said, it's not for me to make those decisions and I'm not leaving."

Giroux was emphatic about "not leaving," which implies he would not waive his no-movement clause.

Club sources say general manager Ron Hextall has no intention of trading Giroux, nor does he anticipate removing another core member -- Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds or Brayden Schenn -- from the mix this offseason, either.

When asked about removing a core forward on Thursday, Hextall said he would rather wait until after the season to answer that with the media.

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