Quote:
Originally Posted by transplant99
This is not to pick on you Nekhara...really isn't.
BUT
The expectations you suggest above, and likely adhered to by many that follow the Flames, are why I just shake my head when this guy is brought up.
I will qualify what I am saying with this....anything is possible, but really not probable for a variety of reasons.
Firstly the high end of 30 points....this would rank him among the top 45 NHL defensemen last year in scoring. Think about that. A guy who is esentially still an NHL rookie scoring among the top 50 in the game is somewhat absurd unless his name is Phaneuf or Greene or Johnson etc. Giordano would need to be playing either top 2 minutes, or have the best PP in the league (and be on the top unit) to even have a shot at such numbers. No doubt he has some offensive abilities, but with his defensive liabilities he will be shielded from anything to do with even top 4 minutes.....as he should.
Which leads me to the second reason.....not enough time on ice will obviously affect his ability to contribute offensively. Also we have to assume that the guy on the club who he would be taking minutes from in an offensive role would be Aucoin. Aucoin was 27th in the entire NHL among dmen for points last year...and makes 4 million bucks. Does it make ANY sense to take Aucoins minutes from him when he has proven he can make the contribution on offense he did, AND make him sit behind a guy who makes a 1/4 of his salary? As a coach or GM the answer would be a resounding...NO WAY.
All this is of course predicated on the assumption that Aucoin is a Flame come the start of the season and stays healthy enough to play a majority of games. Even if he isn't however, I think it is a massive leap of faith to think Giordano can just step in and get to that level of offensive impact. Remember, one year ago this guy was available to any team that wanted to offer him the money such a player commands these days. Hell, I would be stunned if Sutter matched an offer of anything over a million bucks back then.
No question he will be given a chance to play himself as high as he likes on the pecking order, much like last year. I don't agree that him playing in Russia was any sort of a good move for his development though as playing in QC (had that of happened) would of allowed for 2 things Moscow didn't.
1) He would of been in the Flames "system" and playing with similar players that Calgary now employs. (Comparitively of course)
2) He would of been seen about 100 times more often by his bosses, and had he of had a good year as most here seem to think he would of....he would have Sutter and Co. making a plan for him now and into the future. Better for both the club and himself.
right now he is just another guy trying to get a spot on an NHL club...the same scenario that will play out in 30 cities all over the NHL.
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Hey Transplant, I know you aren't trying to "pick on me".
I just looked at his stats 2 years ago, thought long and hard about whether I really believe his stats will worsen from then... which I see no reason for.
He had 7g, 8a, and 15 points in 48 games. 9g, 11a and 20 points in 82 games should be WELL within range unless he drops off hugely. 10g, 20a, and 30p in 82 games is what we could possibly see if he plays lots of minutes and his game reacted well to his time in Russia.
I don't see any indication to suggest that his numbers will worsen, that's all.