Claude Giroux made his return to the Philadelphia Flyers on July 1, 2026. He signed a one-year contract after Ottawa chose not to retain him. Both Ottawa and Edmonton pursued him before he opted for Philadelphia. Giroux first played for the Flyers from 2007 to 2022 before joining Ottawa. Ottawa’s GM Steve Staios mentioned they would have signed him if he had requested to stay. The move wraps up weeks of talks with several NHL clubs. Flyers fans showed excitement over his return. The franchise now has a proven leader on its roster.