Longtime NHL veteran will find new home this off-season in free agency according to reports

If John Tavares and Mitch Marner make it to free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have to consider other avenues to fill a top-line role.

The person who could fill that role could be the Senators' own Claude Giroux, whose $6.5 million contract ends at the end of the 2024-2025 season, making him a pending UFA.

Here are a few places the cupless wonder could find a new home in 2025-2026.

In a situation that is too good to be true, could Danny Briere be convinced to bring back the Flyers legend once and for all? The team is in the midst of a rebuild, and he could very well be a mentor to the team's fledgling youth, including Matvei Michkov, and could be a piece to push them back into playoff contention.

Giroux's addition wouldn't be enough, but he'd be a starting piece for a team whose ready to turn the corner.

The move to Toronto undoubtedly hinges on whether the team decides to part ways with Mitch Marner or John Tavares.

If they do, Giroux would be a solid addition, as a consistent 1st or 2nd-line center who posts 50+ points and above each season.

In 81 games with the Senators this year, he posted 50 points (15 goals, 35 assists), which would give Giroux a legitimate shot at the Stanley Cup.

If he's on a Cup hunt, what better place to look than the Western Conference's Dallas Stars? The Stars are a perennial playoff team, thanks to the coaching of Peter DeBoer and consistent play across the lineup.

The team has four UFAs in Jamie Benn, Mikael Granlund, Matt Duchene, and Evgeny Dadonov.

Giroux would be an excellent replacement for any losses they suffer during free agency and would add stability to the lineup with the loss of Benn or Duchene.

The Blackhawks have tested out the free agent market heavily these past two off-seasons, but failed to acquired veterans who had a large on-ice production.

Names like Patrick Maroon, Nick Foligno and T.J. Brodie are all good locker room morale boosters but failed to get on the score sheet. Many found them being healthy scratched as well, where Giroux could make a valuable impact alongside Connor Bedard on Chicago's top line.