[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I wouldn't. Weighing the pros and cons:

Giordano
- Captain and one of the best leaders in the NHL
- 48 points in 61 games last season
- 4 goals, 2 assists in 20 games this season, but could easily heat up on both sides. Might be playing injured right now.
- When he's on, and eventually this season he will be on, one of the best shot suppressors in the NHL
- 32 years old, UFA after 38. Chara is 38 right now, BTW, and looks fantastic. Giordano has been that class of player/captain for two seasons, 20 so-so games don't wipe that.
- Left hand shot, career high 14 goals, plus 11 goals twice, plus 8 goals, plus 9 in 61 games. Will probably be good for 8-12 goals the rest of his career.

Hamonic
- Plays tougher minutes, but really a #3 defenseman on the Islanders with Leddy and Boychuk as its top pair.
- 3 assists in 19 games this season, 33 points in 71 games last season
- 25 years old, UFA after 29 (Exact same year Brodie goes UFA, btw.)
- Right hand shot, career high 5 goals twice.

That's fair but it's become pretty evident since Gio went down to injury last season where the team never missed a beat that Brodie is really the straw that stirs the drink on the back end and Gio's contract looks absolutely frightening if he's going to play like this every odd season and regress as he ages. I simply think it's a little short term pain for long term gain ridding themselves of the contract and in turn bringing in a solid top 4 defenseman that wants to play out West. In a perfect world Gio could retire a Flame but that contract they signed him to is just terrible when you consider how old he's going to be in the back half and how dicey player careers are when they reach 35 years of age.