Sam Carchidi: Claude Giroux sweepstakes are underway, and Flyers are hoping to cash in (+)

The Philadelphia Flyers, it has become clear, will be trying to deal many veterans before the March 21 trade deadline.

In recent days, general manager Chuck Fletcher and his newly appointed special assistant, Danny Briere, both said there will be “opportunities” in the coming weeks to build for the future.

Briere was dispatched to Colorado on Thursday and watched the Avalanche play Tampa Bay. The next night, he watched the Avs’ AHL team, the Colorado Eagles, host Tucson.

That stirred the Claude Giroux rumor mill.

That doesn’t mean the Avalanche will be Giroux’s landing spot if he waives his no-movement clause, as expected. Several contenders are sniffing around.