Quote:
Originally Posted by strombad
I don't see it, but the last few posters aren't wrong. There are a few top level guys playing right now, and after them there's a big group of guys that are incredibly close (which Gio is part of).
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Really, the best thing going for Gio is the fact that there really is only 1 elite, no doubt about it defenseman for Canada right now that shoots left, and that's Keith. After that you have Bouwmeester who will make it for his speed and his play with Pietrangelo, but even Bouwmeester isn't magnitudes better than Giordano.
It all depends on how much Team Canada cares about having D play their on their weaker side. It matters more on smaller ice, and assuming Sochi's rink is international size (Which by the way, varies from rink to rink, i.e. Salt Lake was smaller than Torino) you might think Canada would take 5 or even 6 right handed defensemen, and only take 2 or 3 left handed ones.
Really if the team was picked today there isn't a chance Giordano's name would be called IMO. Saying that, the way he was playing before the injury, and the fact he now has more time to showcase how good he is this year (The date for team selection has been pushed back) makes me believe that if he can keep up the play, he may have a shot over Vlasic for that last spot on the team. Even that is probably just wishful thinking as a Flames fan, but so be it. It's fun being an optimist.