Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
The problem here is that Giordano is still far too important to this team to be moved this year, and likely next. He is the Flames' best defenseman, and the suggestion that Gardiner would be an adequate replacement is laughable. I have come to accept that the Giordano contract is a sunk cost, and for what he provides part of the price is in recognizing he will likely exhaust his value on this team.
I think it is reasonable to see Valimaki blossom into Giordano's role by 2020, but until then the Flames need a good top pairing defenseman for all situations, and Giordano is it for now.
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I'm not saying Gardiner would replace Giordano. Giordano is much better. But I do believe Gardiner is a good defenceman and would help to soften the blow of losing Giordano. Gardiner is a positive possession player, had 52 points last year, and is almost 7 years younger. But the important part (and I don't know this is true) is that Gardiner's value may be low in the eyes of Toronto's management right now because of the media's influence. Thus, the Flames may be able to get Gardiner and help solve the RW problem with Giordano because Giordano is still recognized as a top-10 defenceman league-wide. Give from the defence to get on RW. If we could also get a 1st rounder, I would say that is adequate value for Giordano. I would prefer Gardiner and Nylander for Giordano, but I don't think Toronto would even consider that.
Ultimately, I proposed this idea because I think the Flames need to change the trajectory of their roster. Currently, I think their roster does not have the long-term potential of teams like the Lightning or the Jets (not to mention the Leafs), who are also currently better than the Flames. They need to get younger and increase the long-term potential of the 50-man roster. Even though Giordano is extremely valuable, I think he should be traded for the long-term good of the Flames.