The Florida Panthers are already one of the best teams in all the NHL. However, that did not stop them from improving significantly before the trade deadline. On Saturday, the Philadelphia Flyers agreed to trade superstar Claude Giroux to the Panthers. In exchange, Florida sent back quite the package. The Flyers will receive forward Owen Tippett, a first-round pick in either the 2024 NHL Draft or the 2025 NHL Draft, as well as a third-round pick in the 2023 draft. Along with Giroux, Florida also received forward prospects Connor Bunnaman and German Rubtsov, and a fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft.

It’s a huge addition for the already powerful Panthers offense. Giroux has 18 goals and 24 assists in 57 games played this season. He has also been a helpful participant on the power play this season, with 12 power play points.

Giroux is in the final season of an eight-year contract and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. So, this trade is likely a rental for a couple months, solely with the goal of helping the Panthers win a Stanley Cup in mind.

The Panthers sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 42-14-6 record, for 90 points with 20 games left. Florida is six points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division. But the Panthers are only two points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes, the leaders in the Metropolitan Division.

The former Flyers captain spent the last 15 seasons of his career in Philadelphia, 10 of which as a captain. Giroux was recently honored on Thursday night for playing his 1,000th game with the Flyers.