AP source: Flyers trade captain Claude Giroux to Panthers

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Claude Giroux will try to win his first Stanley Cup in Florida.

Philadelphia Flyers have traded Giroux after he played his 1,000th career game with franchise to Florida Panrs, a person familiar with deal told Associated Press.

person spoke to AP on condition of anymity Saturday because trade had t been anunced.

move strengns Florida’s status as a Stanley Cup contender, giving Aleksander Barkov an elite linemate and one of best faceoff aces in NHL. Panrs earlier in week traded a first-round pick and more for Montreal defenseman Ben Chiarot.

Giroux was traded after he played his 1,000th game with Flyers and was feted Thursday with a game in his hor. Drafted in first round in 2006, Giroux made his Philadelphia debut on Feb. 19, 2008, and has played his entire career with Flyers. He has 900 career points and is eighth on Flyers’ career list with 291 goals. He helped Flyers reach 2010 Stanley Cup finals and was awarded All-Star MVP this season.

Flyers also acquired forward Owen Tippett and draft picks.

Giroux had to waive his -movement clause that was part of his $66.2 million, eight-year contract.

He joined Hall of Famer and two-time Stanley Cup champion Bobby Clarke as only players to reach 1,000 games entirely with Flyers. Giroux was named captain on Jan. 15, 2013.

Flyers have only 19 wins and are tied for last place in Metropolitan Division.

It’s second significant trade for Florida as deadline nears, coming after Panrs landed Chiarot.

defenseman is expected to join Florida this coming week, when Panrs play in Montreal. That will likely also be Giroux’s debut game with his new club.

It’s yet ar clear sign Florida is all-in on finally reversing its fortunes. Panrs went to Stanley Cup final in 1996, franchise’s third season.

y haven’t won a playoff series since, cycling through more than a dozen coaches, going from one rebuild to ar, often playing before an empty arena and dogged by rumors for years that y would be leaving Florida.

But this is as good as it has ever been for Panrs, who have second-best record in NHL entering Saturday, have a Hart Trophy contender in Jonathan Huberdeau, a half-dozen 20-goal scorers this season already and an elite player in Barkov locked up for seven more years.

Plus, Panrs have survived a ton of adversity this season.

team watched Joel Quenneville step down as coach seven unbeaten games into season as part of fallout from Chicago Blackhawks’ scandal involving an abused player — something that happened when Quenneville coached re more than a decade ago. And on Friday, team watched as top defenseman Aaron Ekblad crawled to bench in agony after enduring a lower-leg injury in Anaheim. But by night’s end team already had eugh information to believe Ekblad dodged sort of significant injury that likely would have ended his season and put a huge dent in Florida’s title hopes.

Flyers have long been out of championship contention. But Giroux's 1,000th game was a rare occasion to celebrate in Philadelphia. Clarke presented Giroux with silver stick to mark occasion, and he was given a Rolex watch by his teammates and a crystal by NHL. Giroux also has played in 85 career playoff games for Philadelphia.

“ fans and organization, my teammates have been so good to me for so many years and that’s one of reasons it was pretty emotional after game,” Giroux said.

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AP Sports Writers Stephen Why and Tim Reylds contributed to this report.

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