Quote:
Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
Gio would help this team. I know he’s 38 and people think he’s physically done, but Gio was an absolute force under Darryl and Sutter loves Gio. Ritch Winter pretty much confirms that there’s mutual admiration between both sides and the usage speaks louder than words.
In Darryl’s system, Gio can thrive because it hides his biggest fault as a hockey player. The way Ward had the team checking, it was not ideal for the way this team is built. Maybe for a roster like Vegas, but not the slow as molasses Flames. Under Sutter though, the D have so much more back support and they can step up and make plays which really leverages Gio’s decision making and instincts more which is still at an extremely high level.
Did people not see the Seattle games this season? Gio can still play. He practically willed the Kraken to victory on his own. You don’t think Darryl saw that and said “I could use that guy.”
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This team needed a new culture and identity. Gio was the face of the Flames all those years since Iggy left. Gio represented an era, and that era is over, despite how serviceable of a player he is right now.