Good to hear Burke is a big fan of Hartley and not a big fan of the tank.
The only 2 things holding Giordano back from Norris consideration (and likely a nomination) are missed games due to injury, and playing on a bottom-5 team. It's been mentioned that he is 15th in defensemen scoring, 3rd in points per game. +4 on a -37 team. Outstanding.
I took a look into his advanced numbers, and it's arguably more impressive.
Top 60 in corsi (possession) percentage. 52% on a team that collectively a shade over 45%.
1st in relative corsi percentage. The Flames are 7.9% better when he is on the ice.
Depending on the metric, anywhere from top 10 to 1st in quality of competition. Of the guys with better possession numbers, only Chara, Oduya and Hjalmarsson play against better players, and all three start much more often in the offensive zone.
9th in toughest zone starts (most defensive assignments). Only TJ Brodie has close to the same possession numbers with the same level of defensive assignments. Any nobody is anywhere near his offensive production.
Basically, Giordano gets on the ice against the best players in the league, just a few feet away from Ramo/Berra/Ortio/MacDonald, and more often than not the puck ends up in the other end or goal (with his name on the scoresheet).
I think Duncan Keith is pretty much a lock for the Norris, but I maintain that if Gio was healthy all year and playing for even the Dallas Stars, he'd be a nominee.
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