Flyers sign Giroux to contract extension

Claude Giroux is staying in Orange and Black for a long time.

The Flyers have reached an agreement on a multi-year contract extension with center Claude Giroux that will take effect at the start of the 2014-15 season, according to GM Paul Holmgren.

The deal is reportedly for eight years and worth $66.25 million. It includes a full no-trade clause.

“We are pleased to announce that we have agreed to an eight year contract extension with Claude Giroux,” Holmgren said. “Claude is a high-quality young man that over the past few years has blossomed into our best player and also one of the top players in the league. We look forward to more and better things to come from Claude over the next number of years as we try to achieve our goal of becoming a championship team.”

Giroux, 25, was named the 19th captain of the Flyers on Jan. 15, 2013. Giroux, entering his sixth season with the Flyers, is coming off a 2012-13 campaign where he posted 13 goals and 34 assists for 47 points while appearing in all 48 games.

In the 2012-13 season, Giroux enjoyed a breakout campaign as he led the Flyers to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He posted some of the best offensive numbers for a Flyers player in a dozen years, finishing the regular season with 28 goals and 65 assists for 93 points on the season, all career highs.

The 93 points were the most by a Flyer in a single season since Eric Lindros had 93 points in 1998-99, and the 65 assists were the most by a Flyer since Lindros posted 68 in 1995-96. Giroux also became just the fourth Flyer ever to record 50 or more assists in consecutive seasons, joining Bobby Clarke (8 seasons, 1972-1980), Brian Propp (3 seasons, 1983-86) and Mark Recchi (2 seasons twice). Giroux ranked third in the NHL in scoring and led the league in power play points with 38 (6G, 32A).

Giroux went on to have a record-setting performance during the first round of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs against Pittsburgh. He scored 14 points in the six-game series, leading all NHL players. He became just the second player in Flyers history to score 14 or more points in a playoff series.