Here's what I think happened with Giroux.
If what Seravalli is saying is true that the Flyers never even talked to another team, then all those rumors about other teams, especially the Avs late "still being in it" were intentional leaks from the Flyers to drive up Florida's offer.
The Flyers sent Briere to Colorado as subterfuge. The Avs were looking at Braun when they were in Philly, before they traded for Manson.
After his 1000th game we heard this could take through the weekend. Then Ekblad went down with an injury, and Fletcher said, if you really want to go to Florida we have to make this deal now, because we might not be able to get any more assets for you if they trade for a defenseman. So they did and didn't quite get the haul they hoped.
Basically all the insiders and Dater, unless he was just piggybacking off other rumors, got played by Fletcher so that Florida didn't realize they were the only one negotiating for Giroux, and just offered a 2nd round pick or something.