History of Claude Giroux in Timeline

Claude Giroux is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain for the Ottawa Senators. Drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2006, he became known for his offensive versatility, playing both center and wing. Giroux served as the Flyers' captain from 2013, becoming their longest-tenured captain, and played his 1,000th game with the team in 2022. He has also played for the Florida Panthers.

1984: Giroux Breaks Bobby Clarke's Record for Games as Flyers Captain

In a testament to his enduring leadership, Claude Giroux surpassed Bobby Clarke's long-held record for most games as captain of the Philadelphia Flyers. Clarke's record of 610 games, which had stood since 1984, was broken by Giroux on January 26, 2021, when he captained the Flyers in his 611th game.

January 12, 1988: Birth of Claude Giroux

Claude Giroux was born on January 12, 1988.

1995: Giroux Becomes First Flyers Player Since Lindros to Reach 100-Point Mark

In the final game of the regular season, Claude Giroux etched his name in Flyers history by becoming the sixth player in franchise history to reach the 100-point plateau in a single season. He accomplished this feat by scoring a power-play goal during the second period of a resounding 5-0 victory over the New York Rangers. This achievement also marked him as the first Flyers player to attain 100 points in a season since Eric Lindros achieved the feat during the 1995-96 season.

2002: Move to Ottawa and Early Hockey Career

At the age of 14 in the summer of 2002, Claude Giroux and his family relocated to Ottawa, Ontario. There, he attended Béatrice-Desloges High School in Orléans and later Minto French Catholic High School. He played Major Bantam AA and Minor Midget AA hockey for the Cumberland Barons, excelling as their leading scorer in the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons.

2003: Leading Scorer for Cumberland Barons

Claude Giroux continued to excel as the leading scorer for the Cumberland Barons in the 2003 season.

2004: Playing for Cumberland Grads and Overcoming Mononucleosis

Despite being passed over in the 2004 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft, Claude Giroux showcased his resilience. He played for the Cumberland Grads during the 2004-2005 season at 16, battling through a bout of mononucleosis that sidelined him for a significant portion of the season. Despite this setback, he managed to score 40 points in 48 games.

2005: CJHL Rookie of the Year

In 2005, Claude Giroux's outstanding performance despite facing mononucleosis earned him the title of Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Rookie of the Year.

2006: QMJHL Rookie of the Year

Claude Giroux was recognized for his outstanding debut season with the Gatineau Olympiques, earning the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Rookie of the Year award in 2006.

2006: Drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers

In 2006, Claude Giroux was drafted 22nd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers, marking the beginning of his NHL career.

2006: Flyers Miss Playoffs for First Time Since 2006-07 Season

The 2012-2013 season marked the first time since the 2006-07 season that the Philadelphia Flyers failed to secure a playoff berth, signifying a period of disappointment for the team.

July 23, 2007: Giroux Signs Entry-Level Contract with Flyers

On July 23, 2007, Claude Giroux formalized his commitment to the Philadelphia Flyers by signing an entry-level contract, setting the stage for his NHL journey.

2007: Partnership with James van Riemsdyk

Claude Giroux spent a significant portion of the 2007 season centering James van Riemsdyk, a highly-touted rookie winger drafted second overall by the Flyers.

February 2008: NHL Debut with the Flyers

Claude Giroux made his NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers in February 2008.

February 19, 2008: NHL Debut Against the Ottawa Senators

Claude Giroux's NHL debut took place on February 19, 2008, against the Ottawa Senators, marking his first steps in the league.

2008: President's Cup and Guy Lafleur Trophy

Claude Giroux played a pivotal role in the Gatineau Olympiques' President's Cup victory in 2008 and was recognized as the playoff MVP with the Guy Lafleur Trophy.

2008: AHL Success and NHL Return

Despite a challenging training camp, Claude Giroux's performance with the Philadelphia Phantoms in the AHL earned him recognition as Rookie of the Month for December 2008. He returned to the Flyers after the Christmas break and continued to make his mark.

2008: IIHF World Junior Championship Gold Medal

Giroux was part of the Canadian team that won the gold medal at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championship.

2008: First Stanley Cup Playoff Goal

In 2008, Claude Giroux further solidified his presence by scoring his first-ever Stanley Cup playoff goal, contributing to a 6-3 victory against Marc-André Fleury and the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

January 27, 2009: First NHL Goal

Claude Giroux etched his name in the NHL record books by scoring his first goal on January 27, 2009, against goaltender Tomáš Vokoun of the Florida Panthers.

2009: Flyers' Inconsistent Season

The Flyers grappled with inconsistency throughout much of the 2009 season, impacting the performances of their players, including Giroux.

November 8, 2010: Three-Year Contract Extension with Flyers

On November 8, 2010, Claude Giroux's contributions were rewarded with a three-year, $11.25 million contract extension by the Flyers, reflecting his growing importance to the team.

2010: Living with Daniel Brière

During the 2010-2011 season, Claude Giroux lived with teammate Daniel Brière and his family.

2010: Playoff Run and Stanley Cup Finals Appearance

In 2010, Claude Giroux played a crucial role in the Flyers' playoff journey, securing their playoff berth with a game-winning shootout goal against the New York Rangers. The Flyers embarked on an impressive run, overcoming a 3-0 deficit against the Boston Bruins to advance to the Eastern Conference Final. They then dominated the Montreal Canadiens to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Giroux scored a memorable overtime goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3, but the Flyers ultimately fell short, losing in overtime in Game 6.

January 11, 2011: Selected for the NHL All-Star Game

In recognition of his stellar performance, Claude Giroux was named to the 2011 NHL All-Star Game roster on January 11, 2011.

March 26, 2011: 200th NHL Game

Claude Giroux reached another career milestone on March 26, 2011, by playing in his 200th NHL game against the New York Islanders.

2011: Giroux Becomes Flyers' First Line Center and Longest-Tenured Player

Following the Flyers' trade of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards in the 2011 off-season, Claude Giroux assumed the pivotal role of first-line center for the team. This trade also positioned him as the second-longest-tenured player on the Flyers' roster.

2011: Giroux Becomes Flyers' First-Line Center

Following the trades of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter in 2011, Claude Giroux stepped into the role of the Philadelphia Flyers' first-line center.

2011: Moving in with Brayden Schenn

In 2011, Giroux moved into an apartment with teammate Brayden Schenn.

April 13, 2012: Giroux Records First Career Hat Trick and Sets Flyers Playoff Points Record

On April 13, 2012, Claude Giroux achieved a significant milestone by scoring his first career hat trick in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first round of the 2012 playoffs. Furthermore, his exceptional performance in that game saw him amass six points, establishing a new Flyers franchise record for the most points scored by a player in a single Stanley Cup playoff game.

May 7, 2012: Giroux Receives Suspension for Hit to the Head

On May 7, 2012, during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals against the New Jersey Devils, Claude Giroux was handed a one-game suspension for delivering a hit to the head of Devils forward Dainius Zubrus.

June 20, 2012: Giroux Becomes Cover Athlete for NHL 13

In recognition of his outstanding performance, Claude Giroux was chosen as the cover athlete for the popular video game NHL 13 at the NHL awards ceremony held in Las Vegas on June 20, 2012. This marked him as the first Philadelphia Flyers player to grace the cover of an EA Sports NHL video game since Eric Lindros was featured on NHL 99.

2012: Third in NHL Point Scoring

Claude Giroux's exceptional performance in 2012 earned him a third-place finish in the NHL point scoring standings, highlighting his offensive prowess.

2012: Giroux Plays in Germany During NHL Lockout

During the 2012-13 NHL lockout, Claude Giroux, along with his Flyers teammate Daniel Brière, joined Eisbären Berlin, a team competing in the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Unfortunately, in his ninth game in Germany, Giroux sustained a neck and shoulder injury, initially feared to be a concussion. He subsequently returned to North America and remained inactive for the remainder of the lockout period.

2012: Voice Acting Debut

Giroux made a voice appearance in the animated film "The Magic Hockey Skates" in 2012.

2012: Giroux Experiences Slow Start to Shortened Season

The commencement of the shortened 2012-13 NHL season proved to be a challenging period for Claude Giroux, who got off to a sluggish start. With the absence of his linemates Jaromír Jagr, who had signed with the Dallas Stars during free agency, and Scott Hartnell, sidelined with a broken foot, Giroux managed to register a mere seven points in the team's initial 13 games.

January 15, 2013: Giroux Named Captain of the Philadelphia Flyers

On January 15, 2013, Claude Giroux was bestowed with the honor of becoming the 19th captain in the illustrious history of the Philadelphia Flyers. He took over the captaincy from Chris Pronger, who was sidelined indefinitely due to injuries.

April 2013: IIHF World Championship Participation

Giroux represented Team Canada in the IIHF World Championship in April 2013.

July 5, 2013: Giroux Signs Eight-Year Contract Extension with Flyers

On July 5, 2013, Claude Giroux demonstrated his commitment to the Philadelphia Flyers by signing a substantial eight-year contract extension worth $66.2 million, solidifying his future with the team.

2013: Named Captain of the Philadelphia Flyers

In 2013, Claude Giroux was named captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, a testament to his leadership qualities and impact on the team.

July 1, 2014: Arrest in Ottawa

On July 1, 2014, Giroux was arrested in Ottawa for allegedly grabbing a police officer, though no charges were filed.

2014: Another Top-Three Finish in Point Scoring

Claude Giroux replicated his 2012 success by securing another third-place finish in the NHL point scoring standings in 2014.

2015: IIHF World Championship Gold Medal

Giroux was a member of the Canadian team that won the gold medal at the 2015 IIHF World Championship and was named Player of the Game in the final against Russia.

2015: Giroux's Goal Scoring Streak Ends

The 2015-2016 season marked the end of Claude Giroux's impressive three-season streak of scoring 20 or more goals, as he finished the season with only 14 goals. This dip in goal production can be attributed to his recovery from hip and abdominal surgery in May 2016.

May 2016: Giroux Undergoes Surgery for Hip and Abdominal Muscle Injuries

In May 2016, during the 2015-16 season, Claude Giroux underwent surgery to address hip and abdominal muscle injuries. These injuries had evidently impacted his performance, as he finished the following season with only 14 goals, marking the end of a three-season streak of scoring 20 or more goals. Giroux attributed his decreased goal output to his recovery from the surgery in 2016.

December 2016: Engagement

Claude Giroux became engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Ryanne Breton, in December 2016.

2017: Giroux Transitions to Wing, Leading to Career Year

The 2017-18 season witnessed a positive shift in Claude Giroux's performance as he transitioned from his usual center position to the wing. This strategic move paved the way for Sean Couturier to assume the top-line center role, resulting in both players experiencing career-best seasons.

March 13, 2018: Giroux Becomes Longest-Tenured Professional Athlete in Philadelphia

Following the Philadelphia Eagles' release of Brent Celek on March 13, 2018, Claude Giroux ascended to the distinction of being the longest-tenured professional athlete in the city of Philadelphia.

March 20, 2018: Giroux Surpasses Eric Lindros for 5th on Flyers' All-Time Scoring List

On March 20, 2018, Claude Giroux achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Eric Lindros to secure the fifth position on the Philadelphia Flyers' all-time scoring list. He accomplished this feat by assisting on a goal scored by Sean Couturier, earning his 660th career point.

July 2018: Marriage

Giroux and Ryanne Breton were married in July 2018.

2018: Second in NHL Point Scoring

Claude Giroux achieved a career-high second-place finish in the NHL point scoring standings in 2018, trailing only Connor McDavid.

February 20, 2019: Number Retirement by Gatineau Olympiques

On February 20, 2019, the Gatineau Olympiques paid tribute to Claude Giroux's impact on the franchise by retiring his number 28, solidifying his legacy with the team.

August 26, 2019: Birth of Son, Gavin

Giroux and his wife, Ryanne, welcomed their first son, Gavin, on August 26, 2019.

January 26, 2021: Giroux Breaks Bobby Clarke's Record for Most Games as Flyers Captain

On January 26, 2021, during a game against the New Jersey Devils, Claude Giroux participated in his 611th game as captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, surpassing Bobby Clarke's longstanding record of 610 games as captain, which had stood since 1984.

August 5, 2021: Birth of Son, Palmer

Giroux and his wife, Ryanne, had their second son, Palmer, on August 5, 2021.

December 10, 2021: Giroux Sets New Flyers Record for Power Play Points

On December 10, 2021, Claude Giroux etched his name in Flyers history by surpassing Bobby Clarke's long-standing franchise record for most career power-play points. Giroux achieved this milestone by assisting on a goal scored by Sean Couturier, securing his 334th career power-play point.

December 29, 2021: Giroux Reaches 600 Career Assists and Surpasses Bill Barber on Flyers' Points List

On December 29, 2021, just two days before the anniversary of his first NHL point, Claude Giroux achieved two remarkable milestones. He provided an assist on a goal by James van Riemsdyk during a game against the Seattle Kraken, marking his 600th career assist, making him the 10th active player to reach this milestone. Additionally, this assist brought his career point total to 884, surpassing Hall of Famer Bill Barber to claim sole possession of second place on the Flyers' all-time points list.

March 13, 2022: Giroux Scores 900th Point, Moves Up Flyers' Goals List

On March 13, 2022, during a hard-fought 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Claude Giroux achieved a significant personal milestone by scoring his 900th career NHL point. This impressive feat came in his 999th NHL game. In the same game, he also surpassed Eric Lindros to secure eighth place on the Flyers' all-time goals list.

March 17, 2022: Giroux Plays 1,000th Game with Flyers

On March 17, 2022, Claude Giroux marked a significant milestone by playing his 1,000th game with the Philadelphia Flyers.

March 19, 2022: Trade to the Florida Panthers

On March 19, 2022, Claude Giroux was traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Florida Panthers along with draft picks and other players.

July 13, 2022: Signing with the Ottawa Senators

On July 13, 2022, Giroux signed a three-year contract with the Ottawa Senators.

September 19, 2022: Named Alternate Captain

Giroux was named an alternate captain for the Ottawa Senators on September 19, 2022.

November 5, 2022: 300th Career Goal

On November 5, 2022, Claude Giroux scored his 300th career goal in a game against his former team, the Philadelphia Flyers.

2022: Playoff Run with the Panthers

In 2022, Giroux played a crucial role in helping the Florida Panthers win their first playoff series in 25 years, though they were eventually eliminated in the second round.