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View Full Version : The Phoenix Coyotes almost landed Giordano before we did

Resolute 14
12-01-2014, 08:34 PM
Working on Gio's Wikipedia article, and came across this from a 2003 Owen Sound Sun Times article:


Defensive stalwart Mark Giordano will return to the Owen Sound Attack today to anchor the Ontario Hockey League team's blue-line for an overage season.

The 20-year-old Toronto native returned from the Phoenix Coyotes National Hockey League training camp Wednesday and is expected to be at the Attack's practice today.

"He's the cornerstone of our defence and that's what we need to have back in our nest," general manager Mike Futa said Wednesday.

"I think through all of this Mark felt he needed to have an excellent overage year before he turned pro. He had an excellent opportunity to go to Phoenix and they were thrilled by his camp. At this time NHL teams don't have a lot of loot to sign undrafted players."We never would have noticed or cared back then, but the impact of that one decision completely altered our franchise a decade later.
neo45
12-01-2014, 09:27 PM
We also almost had Wideman signed at the same time as Gio. We had Gio, Wideman, and Richie Regher all at camp and they all impressed
AC
12-01-2014, 09:28 PM
As an aside, who is the last undrafted player to captain an NHL team?
nik-
12-01-2014, 09:30 PM
As an aside, who is the last undrafted player to captain an NHL team?

St. Louis in Tampa. We lost out on one, and got the other I guess.
Alberta_Beef
12-01-2014, 09:32 PM
As an aside, who is the last undrafted player to captain an NHL team?Couldn't have been another Flames captain could have it? Todd Simpson?

edit: I forgot St. Louis was captain of the Lightning
AcGold
12-01-2014, 09:36 PM
St. Louis I guess
AC
12-01-2014, 09:47 PM
To answer my own question, here are the few undrafted captains I could find:

Jeff Halpern (Capitals 2005-06)
Mike Keane (Canadiens 1995)
Orest Kindrachuk (Penguins 1978–81)
Kelly Kisio (Rangers 1987-1991)
Randy Ladouceur (Whalers 1991–92, Mighty Ducks 1994–96)
Rick Meagher (Blues 1989–90)
Adam Oates (Capitals 1999-01)
Jeff Odgers (Sharks 1995-96)
Dave Poulin (Flyers 1984-89)
Todd Simpson (Flames 1997-99)
Brian Skrudland (Panthers 1993-97)
Martin St. Louis (Lightning 2013-14)
Mark Tinordi (North Stars / Stars 1991-95)

Quite a lot actually!
FanIn80
12-01-2014, 10:47 PM
Adam Oates going undrafted is a frickin travesty.
Phanuthier
12-01-2014, 10:52 PM
same Mike Futa as the one in LA?
JiriHrdina
12-01-2014, 10:52 PM
Adam Oates going undrafted is a frickin travesty.

Back then there wasn't the scout coverage there is now - so guys could fly under the radar. Oates was also not a good skater. Couple that with the fact he wasn't big - and you have enough reasons for teams to look past him.

Players can have one huge flaw (e.g slack of size or lack of speed) but not both.
PeteMoss
12-01-2014, 11:13 PM
same Mike Futa as the one in LA?

Yep.
mister__big
12-02-2014, 05:33 AM
Adam Oates going undrafted is a frickin travesty.

Same goes for Curtis Joseph and Ed Belfour. Goes to show that player development is really a crapshoot and you never can predict who will be the next diamond in the rough.
devo22
12-02-2014, 05:39 AM
The Flames not only have an undrafted captain right now, but also an undrafted alternate captain in Curtis Glencross.
Jay Random
12-02-2014, 06:08 AM
The Flames not only have an undrafted captain right now, but also an undrafted alternate captain in Curtis Glencross.

Jooris had better be taking notes!
Resolute 14
12-02-2014, 07:22 AM
Also for fun, Mark Giordano at age 20 (?), with hair!

http://www.tcdsb.org/schools/chaminadecollege/clubs/gryphonGazette/Gryphon%20Gazette%20Archives/Issue%202%20-%20June%202004.pdf
getbak
12-02-2014, 07:46 AM
Also for fun, Mark Giordano at age 20 (?), with hair!

http://www.tcdsb.org/schools/chaminadecollege/clubs/gryphonGazette/Gryphon%20Gazette%20Archives/Issue%202%20-%20June%202004.pdf
Presumably, that's his high school grad photo, so he's probably 17 or 18.
Resolute 14
12-02-2014, 07:56 AM
/facepalm. Yeah, that makes more sense.

Remind me not to post before coffee.
OzSome
12-02-2014, 02:11 PM
Adam Oates going undrafted is a frickin travesty.

Adam Oates was in NCAA back then and not a lot of them got noticed until the Flames had success signing players from NCAA. As I remembered correctly, there are some teams who were chasing Adam Oates to sign for them including the Flames. He was the biggest free agent coming from NCAA at that time.