Fantasy spin: Giroux trade on Panthers, Flyers
Forward to start on Barkov-Verhaeghe line; impact of move on Florida, Philadelphia
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Fantasy impact of Giroux to Panthers
Forward Claude Giroux was acquired by the Florida Panthers from the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, giving him renewed upside in all fantasy formats.
Giroux is likely to start at wing on the top line with elite center Aleksander Barkov and wing Carter Verhaeghe but could also be a good fit at center or wing on the second line with elite left wing Jonathan Huberdeau. Barkov is tied for eighth in NHL points per game (1.27; 62 points in 49), and Huberdeau is third in points (86 in 62 games).
RELATED: [Giroux traded to Panthers by Flyers]
Giroux will now be Florida's fourth ranked fantasy forward behind Huberdeau, Barkov and Sam Reinhart (60 points in 59 games) and ahead of Anthony Duclair and category coverage standout Sam Bennett. Giroux, who was among the NHL's active leaders in assists (609; 10th), points (900 in 1,000 games; 14th), points per game (0.90; T-15th, minimum 500 games) and power-play points (339; 10th) at the time of the trade over 15 seasons with the Flyers, is a potential 2022 unrestricted free agent.
After playing center on the Flyers' top line for most of the season because of a long-term injury to Sean Couturier (back surgery), Giroux joins the Panthers, who have the highest scoring offense in the NHL (4.06 goals per game) and 10th best power play (23.7 percent). Giroux, one of the most versatile forwards in the League, has a chance to be a point-per-game player over Florida's final 20 games and boosts their chances of making a Stanley Cup run.
Giroux, who remains among NHL.com's top 100 overall fantasy rankings, was second on the Flyers with 42 points (18 goals, 24 assists) in 57 games this season behind Cam Atkinson (47 in 61 games) and led them in PPP (12). He brings added fantasy value in leagues that count face-off wins (587 this season; ninth in NHL) and/or win percentage (60.9; third).
Potential teammate beneficiaries of the Giroux trade are secondary forwards Carter Verhaeghe or Duclair, depending on which gains Giroux as a linemate at even strength, and goalie Spencer Knight, who is 3-1-1 with a .937 save percentage and one shutout since returning from a stint in the AHL with Sergei Bobrovsky (undisclosed) out.
Reinhart and/or Bennett could lose some fantasy value if Giroux takes away some of their minutes in different situations. It's worth noting Bennett made an immediate impact after being acquired by the Panthers from the Calgary Flames prior to the NHL Trade Deadline last season, scoring 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 10 regular-season games following the trade.
Fantasy impact of Giroux trade on Flyers
The Flyers acquired forward Owen Tippett as part of the trade for Giroux, giving Tippett the chance to earn a much bigger role than he had with the Panthers.
Tippett, who has scored 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) in 94 NHL regular-season games prior to the trade and four points (one goal, three assists) in six games during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, started this season with the Panthers but was sent down to Charlotte of the American Hockey League, where he has scored 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 12 games this season.
Although the Flyers have fallen out of Stanley Cup Playoff contention, Tippett is worth adding in deeper fantasy leagues, especially dynasty formats, with a chance to emerge as a top-six wing down the stretch of this season and then could be a sleeper with exposure to Couturier and Atkinson next season.
One potential beneficiary of Giroux's departure in Philadelphia is center Kevin Hayes, who has scored multiple points in each of his first two games totaling two goals, two assists and seven SOG since the trade and is averaging 19:49 per game in the span.
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