OTTAWA - Oct 3, 2025 -- Ottawa Senator captain Claude Giroux during their home opener at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa Monday. TONY CALDWELL, Postmedia. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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There is no place like home for Claude Giroux.

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The Ottawa Senators’ alternate captain was on the verge of signing a one-year extension on Monday night that will keep in the national capital next season, league sources told the Ottawa Citizen.

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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 Citizen late Friday that “he hasn’t made his decision yet” on where he’s headed and a return to the Senators remained on the table.

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The Citizen also reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs were interested, along with the Edmonton Oilers. The talk is that the Leafs offered Giroux the biggest contract, but Toronto isn’t the type of market that fits the mould for the kind of player that he is.

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Talks between Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, and Giroux’s Los Angeles-based agent Pat Brisson intensified in the last 24 hours.

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The contract was being finalized on Monday night.

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Senators owner Michael Andlauer knew the importance of keeping Giroux in the organization, but understood that the veteran wanted to study the market before making a final decision

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It would be no surprise if that message was given to Giroux by Andlauer in recent days.

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Staios expressed on July 1 that the door was still open for Giroux and the club was giving him time to decide what his next step would be.

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“We’ve stated how much we want him back. We’ve been unwavering in our message to him, offered him a contract as far back as before the trade deadline, and he wanted to take a look around in free agency, but hasn’t closed the door to come back to Ottawa,” Staios said.

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“I mean, for us, there’s also a reason why I’m not active today. Obviously, that spot is reserved for him, and I’m eagerly anticipating, waiting to have a conversation with him.”

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Giroux is coming off a one-year deal that paid him $2 million US last season, plus bonuses. It would be no surprise if he got a structure that’s similar to the one he played under last season.

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Claude Giroux of the Ottawa Senators waits for the faceoff during a game against the Buffalo Sabres. Photo by KEVIN HOFFMAN /GETTY IMAGES

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The best free agent signing in franchise history

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The 38-year-old Giroux, who has spent the past four years with the Senators after signing as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2022, took time to ponder his future after the club’s disappointing playoff performance, but he’s hungry for more.

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He is the best free agent signing this organization has made since returning to the league in the 1992-93 campaign.

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Giroux has 85 goals and 242 points in 337 NHL games with the Senators. He is one of the best faceoff men in the league and was 62 per cent in the dot last season. He is close friends with Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzle. A departure would have left a void in the dressing room.

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The Senators have made several changes since they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes. If this really is Giroux’s final season in the league, then maybe he wants to go somewhere where he feels he has a better opportunity to win a Stanley Cup.

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His departure would have left a void in the dressing room. The club has already traded captain Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers, and Giroux is an alternate. He is close friends with centre Tim Stutzle and alternate captain Thomas Chabot, so both would likely be taken aback if he’d moved on.

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bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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