NHL Rumors: Giroux a Senators free agent target, Rangers interested in college star, and LTIR loophole
Anthony Scultore
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Today’s NHL Rumors begins with the biggest name to be moved at the NHL Trade Deadline, Claude Giroux.
The 34 year-old made his Florida Panthers debut on Thursday night picking up two assists in a win over the Montreal Canadiens.
Coming into the matchup, Giroux expressed his anxiety of playing for a team other than the Philadelphia Flyers. “It’s just something I’ve never done before so it’s a little nerve-wracking but I’m very excited,” he said via NHL.com.
NHL Rumors: Claude Giroux
There’s been long rumored speculation that Claude Giroux and the Ottawa Senators may be destined to unite when free agency hits in July.
“No guarantee it happens, but I do believe Claude Giroux is doing his research on Ottawa,” Elliotte Friedman wrote in his latest 32 Thoughts Blog.
Giroux is a native of Hearst, Ontario which is about a 10 hour drive from where the Senators play. Of course, that’s really less than a 90 minute flight from his old hometown.
Giroux has 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 58 games this season. He has 902 points (291 goals, 611 assists) for his career and was the longest-tenured athlete among Philadelphia’s four major professional sports teams until the trade.
New York Rangers interested in college star
The New York Rangers are run by Chris Drury, who has a penchant for players that have been in the US National Development Program and local college stars.
In his recent trades leading up to and at the deadline, he brought in Frankie Vatrano, Andrew Copp, and Tyler Motte. All three were members of the US program with Vatrano and Copp teammates of Rangers alternate captain Jacob Trouba.
The Blueshirts may also have their eye on an undrafted college star from UMASS, captain Bobby Trivigno.
Trivigno, an undrafted 23-year-old forward hailing from Setauket, N.Y., has been on the Rangers’ radar for quite some time. He would’ve participated in the Rangers’ development camp this year if not for NCAA rules that prohibit players from missing school for NHL events, but a source said the pesky 5-foot-8 competitor has already met with members of the Blueshirts’ front office. If the stars align for Trivigno, a contract with the team he grew up rooting for could be waiting for him at the end of his senior season.
Mollie Walker, NY Post
Trivigno also played with current Rangers prospect Zac Jones.
Closing LTIR Loophole
The NHL will be holding meetings next with general managers and one of the topics that will be discussed is the LTIR loophole. Since there is no salary cap in the playoffs, this has allowed teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning to spend over the cap while Nikita Kucherov was placed on LTIR.
Once the playoffs started, Kucherov was able to return and added to the lineup that would’ve been well over the cap during the regular season.
According to multiple reports, there would be a playoff cap where the 20 players dressed could not exceed a specified limit, most likely that year’s cap ceiling.
This will be a key story to follow during these meetings.
