Claude Giroux Almost Traded To Panthers.

While the NHL season is suspended we're still seeing some transactions across the NHL. Prospects are being signed to their entry level contracts, players are being signed to extensions as well as teams negotiating with soon to be KHL free agents. There's action going on but with no hockey happening, we're also hearing stories from insiders and former GM's about moves that didn't happen but came very, very close. A very interesting one popped up as Montreal Canadiens' insider Martin McGuire revealed a trade between the Philadelphia Flyers and Florida Panthers that was done but axed by a Panthers' executive . McGuire reports that Claude Giroux came within minutes of being traded to the Panthers. According to McGuire, the Panthers were having trouble getting goalie Craig Anderson to sign an extension before he would become UFA during the summer of 2009. With then general manager Jacques Martin realizing no deal was going to happen, he started to shop the goalie around. McGuire adds that with the Flyers still looking to solve their goalie problems, Philly was willing to send a young Claude Giroux to Florida for Anderson. Giroux had just played 42 games for the Flyers and registered nine goals and 18 assists. The story goes that then Panthers vice president was certain Anderson would re-up with Florida so he went behind Martin's back and canceled the deal with Philly. Anderson would later end up signing with the Colorado Avalanche during free agency.