Let's talk about: Mark Giordano

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by ignite09

This. People love to exclaim how great Wideman has been, and how Gio just isn't what he should be. Yet the simple truth is both guys belong on a second pairing rotation. Gio is playing more minutes, verses better competition. Isn't his fault, somebody had too.

Replace Gio with Wideman on that first pairing over the last seven games, and half the posters here would be questioning that signing. We can only shelter so many D-men when you have holes too fill in your lineup, he is at least showing the ability to be a better number 2 defenseman then Buttler.

Wideman is playing the most minutes on our D.
Bouwmeester is 2nd, narrowly edging out Gio.

EDIT: Really, there is only roughly 30 seconds per game separating the three of them....but I don't think your argument works when you bring minutes into it..

I have no idea about QUALCOMP, but maybe DeluxeMoustache will be along tonight. He's pretty good at tracking down that type of info.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by ignite09

This. People love to exclaim how great Wideman has been, and how Gio just isn't what he should be. Yet the simple truth is both guys belong on a second pairing rotation. Gio is playing more minutes, verses better competition. Isn't his fault, somebody had too.

Replace Gio with Wideman on that first pairing over the last seven games, and half the posters here would be questioning that signing. We can only shelter so many D-men when you have holes too fill in your lineup, he is at least showing the ability to be a better number 2 defenseman then Buttler.

Maybe. But he also hasn't played on the top pairing all season, against the Ducks when he was split from Bouwmeester, he still looked bad.

And it's the little things he seems to be having problems with, controlling the puck, keeping it in the line, handling passes, etc. And while I think Wideman would also have problems playing on the top pairing, he would at least continue to produce on the PP and add that offensive element. Giordano isn't, at least not up to the expectations he set for us over the last couple years.

I mean it is only 8 games, but he's not playing anywhere close to where he was last year and I'm losing faith that it's just getting use to the visor now.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

...

I mean it is only 8 games, but he's not playing anywhere close to where he was last year and I'm losing faith that it's just getting use to the visor now.

He doesn't have the visor, since last game. I do agree though, the visor can mess some players up. Despite all the Bouw bashing, he's never worn one.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

He doesn't have the visor, since last game.

And he still's playing poorly, that was my point.

Chances are it's psychological, if he thinks it was the visor and has a couple good games he'll simply blame the visor and never wear it again but play well, which is great. But I don't think it was the case.

And in his defence, he did look to be having problems whenever the puck got near his feet the first couple games. That could be because of the visor change.

[ignite09]

Sorry, I just think we have two of the best second pairing D-men in the league. That's a great advantage over your competition, as long as you have two guys capable of first pairing minutes. Both guys have holes in their game that will be exploited by the elite in this game if they're forced to play against them on a regular basis, especially if you include the increased minutes of the #1 pairing 5 on 5. Just saying Gio should be given a little leaway as far as his play so far, and people should understand that Wideman has been able to play a role on this team much more suited too his style because of where we are playing Gio.

[puckluck2]

Thing that pisses me off about Giordano is him thinking he HAS to block every shot and getting out of position trying to block a shot instead of being in the right position.

[Vulcan]

I remember in other seasons, posters commenting that Giordano has lost effectiveness when his ice time has gone up. Maybe he's just not physically able to play the higher minutes as well. Tonight he had the most ice time on the team with 26:11 minutes despite being a minus 2. Showing Hartley has faith in him but maybe a cut back in ice time would benefit him.

[calumniate]

He was on the ice when bouw blew a tire. He almost had the block. Like iggy he needs to get angry. First few games have been sleepers. I do hope he steps it up though, duh

[TSXCman]

This thread really exists? Gio has been playing strong, he is just out on the ice a ton.

The D pairings in general have been pretty good this year. Gio/Bo playing hard in the hard situations. Wideman/Brodie look awesome, then whoever dresses last pair has been fine

[Anduril]

He hasn't looked as effective and involved in the play. Whenever he tries to get himself to be part of the play, you can easily tell how much Gio is struggling to keep up. That and he's playing more minutes on the top line, there is a whole lot of uncomfortable to go around for the guy.
I've always heard how some people kept rating him as a #2 D and even the odd person as a #1. His play so far only supports my belief that he's just a solid all-around #3 with passion being his best quality. Without that, he's been...well, pre-Russia Gio.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Anduril

He hasn't looked as effective and involved in the play. Whenever he tries to get himself to be part of the play, you can easily tell how much Gio is struggling to keep up. That and he's playing more minutes on the top line, there is a whole lot of uncomfortable to go around for the guy.

Came to post^.

In the past Gio, has been at his absolute best when he's logging ~22 minutes a game.
Right now he's logging a hair over 24. That's a huge increase, and for for whatever reason he clearly can't handle it.

The Flames have plenty of capable d-men this year. There is no need to overburden Gio when you have Brodie, Butler, Sarich, and Smith each playing ~17 minutes or less per game.

[Five-hole]

Looks to me like he's thinking too much and forcing it a bit. It'll come.

You can tell he's not happy with his play right now. Might have something to do with adapting to new coaches and a new D partner. Bouw is probably not that easy to play with -- he's not a cookie-cutter kind of player.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Wideman is playing the most minutes on our D.
Bouwmeester is 2nd, narrowly edging out Gio.

EDIT: Really, there is only roughly 30 seconds per game separating the three of them....but I don't think your argument works when you bring minutes into it..

I have no idea about QUALCOMP, but maybe DeluxeMoustache will be along tonight. He's pretty good at tracking down that type of info.

They actually have a chart on flamesnation that actually showed these stats prior to the Detroit game. Yes, Gio is playing the highest QOC, much higher than Wideman, and marginally higher than Bouw, and Wideman is getting way more offensive zone starts. Check it out here:

http://flamesnation.ca/2013/2/5/flames-player-usage

Right now, please let's all give it to Hartley. Wideman is a very good choice for high offensive zone starts. He is very good moving laterally and finding lanes to get the puck through. 7 points in 8 games validates Hartley's deployment of Wideman. In fact, the Flames have scored 10 goals with Wideman on the ice and he has points on 7. That is pretty impressive contribution for a d-man.

This is a very big deal with Hartley. The d are activated a lot and there is extra pressure and better decision making from the back end. It makes it a lot harder for other teams to defend against.

Tonight, I don't blame Gio that much. Sure, he was -2 but Kipper would have saved that first goal that went in off of Irving's shoulder. And Bouw fell down. Ouch. That is poor fortune on a -2. Plus, we are just a few games in to a season with a lot of big adjustments.

I like the resiliency of this team so far. The deeper they have gone in to the season, the more composed they are looking.

[Major Major]

Nothing to see here. Gio will be fine.

Taking a step back after being trusted with playing top pair minutes and competition does not suggest that he won't get there. He is still well on his way to becoming a solid top pairing defender. Eight games with new responsibilities, system, and D partner certainly does not suggest a trend nor does it suggest that he won't grow into the role. We've seen Gio step up to every challenge and answer every bell in his time with the Flames. Hell, someone even ate pubes over it. He will be fine.

[DeluxeMoustache]

He gets at least 10 games free pass after pasting the green man into the glass.

[T@T]

Other than the one goof tonight he played very well...he'll be fine!

[Alberta_Beef]

I think Giordano is struggling a bit still, but I think he is getting better each game. I think the combination of long lay off combined with facing tougher competition was a little much at first. I think with the exception of the ill-advised block attempt on the 3rd Blue Jackets goal he was much better tonight.

[Stay Golden]

Gio is off a bit this early in the season but i am more than confident that he just gets more accustomed to playing with Bouwmeester and his game comes back into form.
Hartley has given Bouwmeester the green light to roam up the ice freely so its falling back onto Gio to cover for him.
Personally i like the pairing.

[you got PHANUEFED]

Gio needs to step up his play or Sarich will be takin his spot.

[Jason14h]

He has played like this since half way through last season