Report: Flyers to hold Giroux out amid trade speculation

Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux won't travel with the team to face the Ottawa Senators on Friday night and won't play against the New York Islanders on Sunday, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The team is holding him out of the lineup until his situation is resolved by Monday's trade deadline, but no deal is in place yet, sources told LeBrun.

Giroux has been the subject of trade rumors for the last few weeks as he's set to become a free agent this summer and the Flyers aren't close to playoff contention.

The 34-year-old played his 1,000th game with the Flyers on Thursday night in a 5-4 victory against the Nashville Predators. The club honored him with a pregame ceremony, and the veteran saluted the crowd with a lap postgame.

"I feel like I've had a great relationship with the fans and this city. I get them. They get me. I love them," Giroux said postgame, according to EPSN's Greg Wyshynski. "That’s one of the reasons why tonight was so tough."

When asked postgame about the process of being traded, Giroux offered reporters an honest answer.

"I've seen a lot of players that I played with that I liked, and I know it's tough when you leave a team, but I actually didn't realize how tough it is," Giroux said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "I wish I knew back then, but it's not something that is really fun."

The Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, and St. Louis Blues are three of the teams that reportedly have an interest in acquiring Giroux.

Despite the Flyers' struggles, Giroux is still having a great year. He's collected 18 goals and 24 assists in 57 games and has won 60.9% of his faceoffs.