‘I wanted to be here’: Claude Giroux on why he re-signed with the Senators

The departure of captain Brady Tkachuk this offseason may have been a tough pill to swallow for many fans of the Ottawa Senators, but they can at least take solace in their venerated alternate captain choosing to return to Canada’s capital.

Forward Claude Giroux, who at 38 years old is nearing two full decades in the NHL, agreed to a one-year deal on July 7 to spend his fifth consecutive season with the Senators.

During a media availability on Tuesday, Giroux discussed his reasons for staying in Ottawa for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

“For me and my family, it was about making sure we make the right decision,” Giroux said. “It’s a big decision for our family, especially when you get three boys. You want to make sure that you make the right one, and we feel like we did.”

Giroux, who had been rumored to be heading back to the Philadelphia Flyers, where he spent the first 13-plus years of his career, touched on his process of considering his options before ultimately re-signing with the Senators.

“When you look at your options, and what you want to do and what really interests you, you have to put your mindset to it that it’s a possibility,” he said. “But when it was time to get it done and pick a team, I wanted to be here.”

He also talked about his desire to maintain the relationships he’s forged in Ottawa in recent years.

“I love the organization. I love my teammates, the coaching staff, you know, everybody that’s involved,” Giroux said. “I’ve been here for four years now, and you just create those relationships. It’s not easy just to put that away. It means something to you. And I want to play with those guys.”

The Hearst, Ontario native has gone from an elite-level number-one center during his heyday in Philadelphia, to a secondary scoring threat and power play savant in his later years. Last season with the Senators, he notched 14 goals and 35 assists for 49 points in all 82 regular season games. Giroux discussed what he sees as his role for Ottawa next season.

“Whatever makes our team the best, I’ll be ready to do that,” Giroux said. “You got to be able to adapt, and I want to play some good hockey.