Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
I don't know how you can possibly argue that.
Flames finished 27th in the league last year in a season where Giordano was a Norris nominee.
Scott Stevens wouldnt get this team in the top 2/3rds of the league.
With or without Giordano, next year is going to be painful. I believe his impact will be negligible in the final standings. If we can agree this is true, then the sole basis for keeping him is for his team contributions away from the ice.
Since iginla left, there has been no place holder for the title of 'amazing leader' thst the fanbase would trot out to soften the blow of lacklustre results, so now it's been bestowed on Giordano by default because he is the captain. Well, I simply don't buy the fairytale boogeyman of the oilers up north and their lack of 'leadership'. That's the ultimate fan argumentative point, an ubquantifiable characteristic applied to players who are likeable and/or have been put in a traditional leadership role.
If selling high on a 31-when-the-season-starts Giordano gives you an opportunnity to add significant futures to your newly rebuilding roster, you take it and run. A trade involving the first overall pick while retaining the 4th meets that criteria, as does any other trade that involves a high 1st and top tier prospect.
I feel like I am channeling Peter12 here but the sentimentality and nostalgia are too much sometimes.
This is like last year, what exactly are you preserving by keeping a guy with high value on a terrible team that won't compete until that guy has low value?
What does that get you? 26th? Maybe?
No thanks, I'll take another Monahan please.
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I definitely see your point, but I think Gio setting the example with his work ethic and leadership, showing the young guys the right way to play the game is fairly important too. Besides that, one could argue that he's a top 10 Dman in the game right now and in a couple years when the Flames could be on the upswing again, he'll only be 32/33 which isn't that old in this age of super conditioning.