Rumor: NHL insider links Claude Giroux to Stanley Cup contender.

One of the most highly anticipated trades of this current National Hockey League season is what many believe to be the now inevitable trade of Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux.

One week ago I reported on comments made by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, comments that made it very clear that Friedman expects Giroux to finish the season on a different team than the Flyers. Now it appears as though Friedman believes one team may very well be the favorite and although he did not use that word himself, the language he did use left little doubt about what he meant.

Friedman began by singing the praises of the long time Flyers captain.

"When it comes to players the one that everybody is really focused on is Claude Giroux," said Friedman on the most recent 32 Thoughts podcast. "He's their captain, he's been a Flyer for a decade, he's one of the best players in the history of the franchise, he really cares a lot about being a Flyer and he still plays really hard. And he has control over his situation."

The insider would go on to state that the Colorado Avalanche seem like a perfect fit for this trade, although he questioned whether or not they could make the dollars work.

"Colorado could use a right hand shot, who couldn't use Claude Giroux?" asked Friedman. "The biggest challenge I have with that is can you make the math work? Even close to the deadline. If Claude Giroux wants to go chase a Stanley Cup, that's a team you go to one, and two I see a fit there."

Friedman would elaborate on the challenges but in spite of that it seems his gut is pointing him towards the Avalanche.

"It's a hard fit because for one thing Colorado doesn't have a player there that makes money... even if the Flyers keep 50%... Colorado I don't see an obvious player that they would want to move to take off their roster to get to Giroux's number. That's number one and number two, say if you have to maybe use a third team then the price becomes even greater."

"Again this is my opinion... this screams Colorado. I just don't know if it works."