In his 7th All-Star Game, Giroux becomes 3rd Flyer to ever win MVP originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
If this was Claude Giroux's final All-Star appearance in a Flyers jersey, he went out with a bang.
The Flyers' captain won the 2022 NHL All-Star Game MVP as he led the Metropolitan Division to the championship crown in a 5-3 win Saturday over the Central Division.
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At T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Giroux put up two goals in the title matchup after recording two points (one goal, one assist) during the Metropolitan Division's 6-4 victory over the Pacific Division.
With Alex Ovechkin out because of COVID protocols, Giroux was captain of the Metropolitan Division squad.
He ended up becoming the third Flyer to ever win an All-Star Game MVP, joining Reggie Leach (1980) and Wayne Simmonds (2017).
The 34-year-old Giroux was representing the Flyers at the All-Star Game for the seventh time in his career.
And it's very possible that it could be his last All-Star hurrah in Philadelphia.
Giroux, the city's longest-tenured active athlete, is in the final year of an eight-year, $66.2 million contract, which has a full no-move clause. The Flyers have an underachieved significantly this season, entering the All-Star break at 15-22-8. How things have transpired gives Giroux and general manager Chuck Fletcher plenty to contemplate as the March 21 trade deadline nears.
"Claude has a no-move trade in his contract. Ultimately, that’ll be his decision," Fletcher said last week of Giroux potentially waiving his no-move clause. "We’re at the halfway point, we’re two months to the trade deadline. I guess the best way to put it is we’ll continue to have conversations and ultimately a decision will have to be made one way or the other. It’ll be Claude’s decision.
"Nobody cares more about the Flyers than he does. I think we have to recognize what we’re dealing with here, he’s a franchise icon, his jersey’s going to be in the rafters. To me, he’s a Hall of Fame player."
More: With sweet Bellagio backdrop, Giroux finishes fountain faceoff in 22.6 seconds
Giroux enjoyed the All-Star Game with his wife Ryanne and their 2-year-old son Gavin.
"Any time you get to go play with the best in the league, it's always great," Giroux said Wednesday in an interview with Flyers senior director of communications Zack Hill. "This year is a little bit more special with having Gavin coming with us, so it should be some good memories."
Giroux made it extra memorable.
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