Senators’ Masterton Nominee Claude Giroux Leads By Example

On occasion, the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded to a player who has battled through adversity under extenuating personal circumstances, a debilitating injury, or a health scare.

However, Claude Giroux represents the true definition of this honour.

The “Masterton Trophy” is awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport.

This is Claude Giroux personified, and the reason the veteran of 1,270 NHL games, including playoffs, is the Ottawa Chapter Professional Hockey Writer’s Association’s Senators’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

In lieu of what Giroux terms himself a “frustrating” season for the team, the 36-year-old’s Masterton nomination is a silver lining.

“It’s a great honour. It’s a good feeling,” said Giroux.

This marks the second occasion the Ottawa resident has received a Masterton nomination. He was the Philadelphia Flyers nominee in 2018.

Whether playing hockey, golf, or tennis, Giroux’s competitive nature is unmatched. Leading by example, his maturity on and off the ice is something every NHL player desires to do, but few can truly follow in Giroux’s footsteps.

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Senators’ interim head coach Jacques Martin exalts his favourable opinion of his alternate captain.

“I think he’s had a tremendous season. I think he’s been a big help to this team. He’s the only veteran player we have. He’s got a lot of experience that comes from a lot of places. He’s provided a lot of leadership, and I think he’s been very helpful for Brady (Tkachuk) as a captain. And probably this organization needs a little more of that,” Martin noted.

“He has a good work ethic. One his biggest assets for me is his intelligence on the ice, ability to read the play, being in the right spot at the right time. He’s a player that has a great anticipation. He’s a player that can shoot the puck – more of a playmaker as well. I think for a lot of years playing as a centre, that’s why he’s a good disher.”

An undrafted junior player, Giroux made the Gatineau Olympiques squad out of training camp in 2005 and earned Quebec Junior League Rookie of the Year honours.

Selected 22nd overall by the Flyers in the 2006 Entry Draft, Giroux learned first-hand what it was like to be a true professional from teammates such as Daniel Brière, Scott Hartnell, Chris Pronger, and Mike Richards, a trait that he continues to pay forward.

“Early in my career, I was lucky enough to have a lot of veterans on my team – to see how they are off the ice and on the ice, and how they play the game. I feel I was pretty lucky to have those guys around.”

For the here and now, Giroux’s season has once again been tremendous, as Martin described, despite the Senators’ disappointing 2023-24 campaign.

He reached the 20-goal for the 11th time in his career, and recently his 40th assist tied Senators’ legend, current assistant coach Daniel Alfredsson for 55th all-time in league history with 713.

“It’s very frustrating. It’s not the position we want to be in right now, the ups and downs of this season – just very frustrating. At the end of the day we need to figure out a few things. We like the pieces in this locker room. We feel like we’re a good hockey team. We need to be consistent and we’ll be better next year.”