It’s going to take some time to get used to Claude Giroux in a Florida Panthers sweater.
Thursday night was Giroux’s first game with the Panthers after being traded to Florida before the 2022 NHL trade deadline. The former Philadelphia Flyers captain had an emotional week leading up to the deadline, culminating in his 1,000th career NHL game with the team in what was partly a celebration and partly a farewell tour.
Now, a new leaf has been turned and Giroux has taken to the ice with the Panthers in an official game capacity. And folks I have to say, it’s really really weird!
No. 28, Claude Giroux 😸 pic.twitter.com/c7DJYib0qh
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 24, 2022
Yeah, this hurts me.
Not only that, Giroux and former Flyers defenseman Robert Hagg teamed up to assist on Aleksander Barkov’s opening goal just a minute into the game for their first points in a Panthers’ sweater.
Barkov equalizer from Giroux and Hagg 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6hcDjyw69N
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 24, 2022
Here’s how the hockey world — and Flyers fans in particular — reacted to Giroux’s first game with the Panthers.
