Bring back Gio!

[BigRed]

Good story in the Athletic:

https://theathletic.com/2989302/2021...ampaign=601983

He would no doubt be a great add at the deadline for the right price, as Seattle will surely not make the playoffs.

Waive Zadorov, add Giordano and re-sign him for 2 years at a cap-friendly rate so he can close out his career mentoring Valimaki on the 3rd pairing. Get it done, Treliving.

[Johnny Makarov]

yeah....no

Notice how much better we are when he isn't the captain anymore.

[Strange Brew]

That's not really where I see the team having needs. One or two forwards please.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by BigRed

Good story in the Athletic:

https://theathletic.com/2989302/2021...ampaign=601983

He would no doubt be a great add at the deadline for the right price, as Seattle will surely not make the playoffs.

Waive Zadorov, add Giordano and re-sign him for 2 years at a cap-friendly rate so he can close out his career mentoring Valimaki on the 3rd pairing. Get it done, Treliving.

I wanted Gio back at the start of the season, but I'm pretty sure that bringing him back would result in a Gio - Tanev pairing. That in turn would cut into Kylington's ice-time and opportunity. Our young D needed the added responsibility, I don't think it's a coincidence they took a step with Gio gone.

[Cole436]

You can’t bring him back. This group had to move on and find its own identity and leadership without Gio, and bringing him back regresses that.

It’s the same thing when people advocated to bring Iginla back soon after he was traded, you gotta move on.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

yeah....no

Notice how much better we are when he isn't the captain anymore?

Don’t think the improvements have anything to do with Gio’s leadership. It’s 90% Darryl and 10% stars in contract years playing lights out

Id bring him back, but if it leads to Kylington and Tanev being broken up I’m not interested.

Cost to acquire could still be a problem

[N-E-B]

I've moved on from Gio. Sign him at the end of his career for a day to retire as a Flame but otherwise I hope he has a great career in Seattle or Toronto or wherever he ends up.

[Toonage]

Gio was fine, until the Flames made the playoffs. Then he was awful.

Also Seattle is unlikely to trade their first ever captain at the deadline regardless of standing I would think.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Gio was fine, until the Flames made the playoffs. Then he was awful.

Also Seattle is unlikely to trade their first ever captain at the deadline regardless of standing I would think.

I think Gio played with playoff intensity every night, then in playoffs everyone matched his intensity and he had nowhere to turn the dial up to and would end up looking sloppy trying to do too much

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

yeah....no

Notice how much better we are when he isn't the captain anymore.

That’s a little unfair to Gio honestly. It’s not his fault it took the team near a decade to find a proper coach to get the full potential out of the roster. Not advocating acquiring Gio but if the cost was reasonable and the Flames end up losing some D in other deals to bolster the middle 6 forwards than I could see a fit.

[Number 39]

Flames have moved on and the new leadership group seems to be doing fine. No sense in disrupting that. Leave the past in the past

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by neo45

I think Gio played with playoff intensity every night, then in playoffs everyone matched his intensity and he had nowhere to turn the dial up to and would end up looking sloppy trying to do too much

That is an interesting way to look at it, and could very well be what was happening. Absolutely agree that he looked sloppy and appeared to be trying to do too much. Still, do not want him back.

[BigRed]

I'd be really interested to see how Gio fits into the team in a reduced role.

I recall reading Hanifin's comments the day after the expansion draft, talking about what an incredible example he set for him as a young defenceman still learnign what it took to step up his game. I can't believe that example wouldn't be valuable for someone like Valimaki to learn and grow quickly to his potential.

Giordano is a consummate team guy. He would slot in wherever Sutter wanted him to. I would be thrilled to see and not just sentimentally -- I think in the right role he makes the team better right away. Or does anyone not see Gio as an upgrade over Zadorov?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

That’s a little unfair to Gio honestly. It’s not his fault it took the team near a decade to find a proper coach to get the full potential out of the roster. Not advocating acquiring Gio but if the cost was reasonable and the Flames end up losing some D in other deals to bolster the middle 6 forwards than I could see a fit.

Welcome to the posting stylings of Johnny Makarov, though “a little” is a huge understatement.

[dammage79]

Ahh, the freshest of nostalgia.

Flames should be pushing Valimaki up. Not burying him deeper.

[Nammer403]

I wouldnt bring him back
Ship has sailed and i dont want to ruin the dynamic of the team/leadership group

I highly doubt Seattle would trade their captain if they haven't discussions with him being there for the long term/rest of his career

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by neo45

I think Gio played with playoff intensity every night, then in playoffs everyone matched his intensity and he had nowhere to turn the dial up to and would end up looking sloppy trying to do too much

I've never really bought into that line of thinking. There are guys in every sport who make their living by bringing it to every single game. These players don't traditionally disappear in the playoffs.

Gio's playoff performance is a small sample size but I don't attribute it to everyone else now being as amped up as he was. He just didn't play very well. There is more game planning in the playoffs and he would have been the only defenseman on the team for which an other team would have had a plan. Maybe he just struggled with making adjustments to that and doesn't seem he had a coaching staff who helped him much either.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Welcome to the posting stylings of Johnny Makarov, though “a little” is a huge understatement.

Hey look at the game. Gio goes on covid protocol and the Kraken have dominated...

but of course you have to defend him. What is your name? lol

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Hey look at the game. Gio goes on covid protocol and the Kraken have dominated...

I have an anti-polar bear rock to sell you.

ETA: nice stealth edit to snipe at my handle. Reminder: I said Gio should be exposed in the ED, even afterwards when people were complaining about it. And I argued against any deals to retain him. And I haven’t suggested bringing him back at all.

[Flamesfan05]

Can he come back as a spare guy sitting in the back of the room ?

He is going to be 40. Seating around waiting for him to lead never really worked before.