[News] Mark Giordano Extension Done! 6 years, $40.5 million ($6.75 million AAV)

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by handgroen

when you compare the flames and oilers rebuilds, gio is the major outlier and biggest thing the oilers are lacking.

While I think it was obvious to every Flamea fan that Gio was going to succeed Iginla as captain I am not so sure many on here thought he was going to be this good and elevate is game this much. I have always loved Gio but when the team entered a full rebuild I thought he was a solid top 4 D and did not think he was an elite #1 franchise type player.

When he got the "C" he took that honor very seriously and stepped his game up considerably. He is definitely a key reason the rebuild has gone so well and quickly.

[FBI]

Great deal. Less than a month till preseason game #1, lets get going already!

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Your link doesn't work...but this one should.

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hoc.../12797421.html

All the more impressive when you factor in this...

"............. said Giordano's current blueline partner Adam Pardy"

[doctajones428]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Even if you think he deserved 9x6 that's only about 13 million (not tens).

Still, he's 1+ million underpaid per yer. Huge sacrifice.

I think he could have gotten 7.5x8 or 8x8. That's $19.5-$23.5 million left on the table

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by mikeecho

All the more impressive when you factor in this...

"............. said Giordano's current blueline partner Adam Pardy"

Ah yes, that unforgettable pairing:

‘And on defence, the Flames have Bonavista, Newfoundland product Adam Pardy, who is from Bonavista, Newfoundland. His partner is the best defenceman you never heard of, and you're not going to hear about him from us, because he's not from Bonavista, Newfoundland, so we're not going to mention him 15 times a night just for the fun of saying “Bonavista, Newfoundland”. Unlike Adam Pardy of Bonavista, Newfoundland, you know.’

At which point the organist starts playing the William Tell Overture, and the announcers go completely bonkers in unison and all start singing ‘Bonavista, Newfoundland’ until the ushers come with butterfly nets to take them away.

With publicity like that, is it any wonder Giordano took so long to get noticed?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by doctajones428

I think he could have gotten 7.5x8 or 8x8. That's $19.5-$23.5 million left on the table

Not without getting traded first. The Flames clearly were not going to offer him an 8-year contract, and the maximum term is 7 for a UFA signing with a new team.

[Dion]

[Dion]

Originally Posted by doctajones428

I think he could have gotten 7.5x8 or 8x8. That's $19.5-$23.5 million left on the table

Sometimes taking a discount to play for a team that has a very bright future is a better investment. He knows we have something special brewing and I have no doubt that he put a priority on staying with this team.

[Itse]

I also think players don't want to be That Guy. The guy who gets constantly called an anchor and a terrible contract in the media and the fans keep saying "he's terrible", when in fact he's not terrible but just has a contract he can't live up to.

As for calling Treliving "an elite GM", I agree that things are looking good right now, but let's see his team get somewhere in the playoffs for at least 3 times before we start using words like that. So far things only look good on paper. Actual continued success is everything.

[Dajazz]

It's one of those contracts that basically had no chance of being "good value" due to age, his performance and potential term. In all fairness Treliving and Giordano agreed on a solid contract, its left to be seen if it is good value a few years from now. In any case I think he easily could have gotten an extra year AND an extra million, so Trader Brad is doing his thing again

[curves2000]

There is lots and lots of talk on this thread and elsewhere the last few days about a "hometown discount' I do find it a little odd at some of the numbers some people are throwing around.

Did Gio and his camp leave a little bit of money on the table? Perhaps a tad which was probably offset a little with the addition of the NTC and LTC clauses and extra year added.

People are looking at this as a free agent signing as opposed to an extension with a full season left on a current.

Say for arguments sake that this was an FA deal and a quality team with cap room was able to sign Gio at age 33. Say they threw $9 mil a year and a 5 year term for $45 total. Flames offered $40.5 I just don't see how a ton of teams would have gone for huge contracts for a guy like Gio and that he left 10,15,20 mil on the table like some of my buddy's suggest. The likelihood of a player, agent and family members allowing that to occur would be almost nil. Its one thing to give up a little to be somewhere comfortable but nobody gives in this much.

All in all a great player, quality signing and a quality set of defenseman the Flames have assembled. Cant wait for the season to start!

[Derek Sutton]

This may have come up earlier and was mentioned in his FAN 960 interview yesterday. All salaries are in US dollars so right now 6.75 is about 8.25 so looking at it that way (not that either the team or the player should) this is a good deal for Giordano, well actually all players living in Canada would have seen substancial increaes in the last year

[bubbsy]

happy to hear this got done, and that giordano will be a flame long term. heart & soul player that has skills to boot.

He's a huge part of the team chemistry and vibe, and the flames are lucky to have him. In my mind, he is exactly the kind of guy that a rebuild needs. Strong character, work ethic, and a leader not just in the room but a core contributor on the ice also.

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by Dajazz

It's one of those contracts that basically had no chance of being "good value" due to age, his performance and potential term. In all fairness Treliving and Giordano agreed on a solid contract, its left to be seen if it is good value a few years from now. In any case I think he easily could have gotten an extra year AND an extra million, so Trader Brad is doing his thing again

I agree, IF he has another Norris caliber season and stays relatively healthy. If he suffered a serious injury this season, though, he'd be looking at offers for a small fraction of what he's now guaranteed. All things considered, I think this deal is fair for both sides.

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by Dion

Sometimes taking a discount to play for a team that has a very bright future is a better investment. He knows we have something special brewing and I have no doubt that he put a priority on staying with this team.

Please don't use the term 'something special'. It's too oilers-esque. The oilers have had something special brewing for years, and even Ex-Lax can't get it going.

[CroFlames]

Did they do a presser? I got roasted earlier for speculating whether there would be one or not.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by curves2000

There is lots and lots of talk on this thread and elsewhere the last few days about a "hometown discount' I do find it a little odd at some of the numbers some people are throwing around.

It's a league where Mike Green, the fifth defensemen for Washington last year, got 6M a year from Detroit. 7M a year is no longer top tier talent. I'd actually love to see Byfuglien and Seabrook chase the money this summer to really give a sense of what Giordano could have got.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Did they do a presser? I got roasted earlier for speculating whether there would be one or not.

Doesn't look like it.

Someone speculated that we'd likely see the Giordano contract extension announced if the CalgaryNext unveiling didn't go well.

Prophetic words, whoever it was that posted it.

[Benched]

At some point u have to take chances and offer your good players term and salary and try to build around them. Like the contract, glad gio is a flame for the foreseeable future.

Will this be a great contract in year 6? Probably not, but who knows.

[goodyear]

When I first saw the $40.5M figure, I thought the contract might have been front loaded.. 9, 9, 9, 5.5, 5.5, 2.5... or something like that. Been a Gio fan for a long time so good to have him signed. Forever a Flame! hahha