Giroux agrees to contract extension with Flyers

RALEIGH, N.C. - The conversation between Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and Claude Giroux's agent started over the summer.

It might - or might not - have been hastened by Giroux's red-hot start to the season.

Either way, Giroux will be a Flyer at least until June 30, 2014, after he signed a contract extension yesterday for 3 years and $11.25 million, a source told the Daily News.

"I'm really excited to be with the Flyers organization for another 3 years," said Giroux, who has three game-winners among his seven goals (and 14 points) in 15 games this season. "We are going to be a very good team, hopefully for many years. This is a good group of guys and I am having a lot of fun right now."

The signing means Holmgren will have one less reason to sweat next summer, since both Giroux and Jeff Carter were scheduled to become restricted free agents next July 1. Rather than wait until June, Holmgren nipped one of his impending free agents in the bud in a deal that seems fair for both sides.

According to the source, Giroux, 22, will earn $765,000 this season. Next year, his salary will jump to $2.75 million. His pay will increase to $3.5 million in 2012-13 before topping off at $5 million in 2013-14. Giroux's cap hit during those years will come out to $3.75 million.

His new pay scale benefits the Flyers because it escalates while the team's cap obligations decline due to expiring contracts.

"I think it was important to get guys we consider key parts of our team locked up moving forward," Holmgren said. "We look forward to him becoming an even better player. Now, he can concentrate on just playing and it's something we don't have to worry about for a few years."

Holmgren said Giroux's signing won't impact the negotiations with Carter or any other player in the future. Carter reportedly is close to a long-term deal.

"I don't think it affects anything," Holmgren said. "We'd like to keep our team together."

The Flyers returned forward Eric Wellwood to Adirondack. He picked up one assist in his first three NHL games last week.