[News] Giordano left unprotected in expansion draft

[Erick Estrada]

Gio has been a classy Flame and while it's sad to see him go I do believe it's time for a new chapter with this team as I don't trust the GM to shake up the core so I'm happy the Kraken will start that process for him. I actually think it's going to be good for Gio to get off the sinking ship that is the Flames and he's going to get a bit more recognition out there and a new fan base to appreciate their inaugural captain.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

All good things must come to an end. I enjoyed watching some elite play from Giordano over the years but also happy to see the younger guys like Andersson, Valimaki and Kylington have the opportunity to take on a bigger role. We’re not in a position to be competing for a Stanley Cup without some changes anyways.

As for Gio, I like the thought of him landing on a contender at some point. Had hoped it would have been us; you know we wouldn’t have flipped him at the deadline this year just out of loyalty.

It never ceases to amaze me that when talking about the Flames younger D, and their upside, Hanifin gets left out.

He is younger than Andersson, basically the same age as Kylington, and older than Valimaki.

Just strange.

IMO, he also has the most upside.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Stating facts is most definitely not a knock on someone. Don’t confuse the two.

Middle six includes 2nd and 3rd line. Again talking about ice time, Lanny, Peplinski were not in that category at the end of their careers. That is all.

Back on topic, Gio news not surprising. The gap between him and next possible choice on Flames is enormous.

LOL. The fact Pepper and Lanny were not even middle six makes the point about Dube even stronger.

[gvitaly]

I am actually pretty happy at the thought of $21M in cap space. I have nothing but respect for what Giordano has done after taking over for Iggy. He brought a stabilizing presence on the backend, and he was a warrior for this team. He is a great person, and I hope the move to Seattle won't be too difficult for him. At the same time I welcome the change from a hockey stand point.



I think the Flames can still sign someone like Suter/Oleksiak/Edler and have enough cap to add to the forward ranks. It will weaken the back end, but can also be the coming out party of one of our young D on the PP. I am also tempted to go after Deangelo to play on the 3rd pairing, if he gets bought out. He does come with a big red flag with his attitude, but I don't keep track with what he did outside of hockey. At the end of the day, this gives the Flames a lot of options before the start of the season. I hope that with some savvy trades/signings they will turn into an exciting team again.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by chedder

Well, many of us wanted a major shakeup. This accomplishes that and gives the gm a big chunk of change to try do something. Whether it works is for time to tell.

Thanks for the memories Gio

[getbak]

Originally Posted by timbit

It never ceases to amaze me that when talking about the Flames younger D, and their upside, Hanifin gets left out.

He is younger than Andersson, basically the same age as Kylington, and older than Valimaki.

Just strange.

IMO, he also has the most upside.

Hell, even Mackey -- who everyone is hoping can crack the lineup as a rookie next season -- is four and a half months older than Hanifin.

[Bingo]

This whole thing comes down to two things ...

Giordano out playing his contract to the point that his 6th year (the one that was really supposed to suck) feels like a loss to the team. Good on him.

And a solid signing of Chris Tanev last off season and the rebound he had in a Calgary uniform.

Honestly comes from two good things. The alternate universe where Tanev was either never signed or had a miserable season and missed half the games, and Giordano fell apart half way through his contract wouldn't be a favourable out come to this one.

Still hoping they're not going to pay some silly price, the team needs change. Here it comes.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by timbit

It never ceases to amaze me that when talking about the Flames younger D, and their upside, Hanifin gets left out.

He is younger than Andersson, basically the same age as Kylington, and older than Valimaki.

Just strange.

IMO, he also has the most upside.

I already consider Hanifin to be an established NHL-calibre top 4, who gets ample responsibility and minutes. The other three are obviously not there yet (Andersson obviously being the closest).

I agree he is still young and there is still further upside though, especially if he gets more minutes on PP1. Still room to grow into a legit top pair guy. Don't think he has an elite ceiling but that's not a knock against him per se.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I am actually pretty happy at the thought of $21M in cap space. I have nothing but respect for what Giordano has done after taking over for Iggy. He brought a stabilizing presence on the backend, and he was a warrior for this team. He is a great person, and I hope the move to Seattle won't be too difficult for him. At the same time I welcome the change from a hockey stand point.



I think the Flames can still sign someone like Suter/Oleksiak/Edler and have enough cap to add to the forward ranks. It will weaken the back end, but can also be the coming out party of one of our young D on the PP. I am also tempted to go after Deangelo to play on the 3rd pairing, if he gets bought out. He does come with a big red flag with his attitude, but I don't keep track with what he did outside of hockey. At the end of the day, this gives the Flames a lot of options before the start of the season. I hope that with some savvy trades/signings they will turn into an exciting team again.

$21M in cap space? Did I miss something?

As Bingo just touched on, that Giordano contract was great, when signed we all surmised the last 3 years might be tough to swallow. Gio really lived up to that entire contract.

The guy has battled adversity his entire career, he keeps proving you can never count him out.

Watch him be one of those guys who plays till hes 45.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

$21M in cap space? Did I miss something?
.

If Gio is selected, then the Flames will have 21M in cap space...this is true.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

$21M in cap space? Did I miss something?

As Bingo just touched on, that Giordano contract was great, when signed we all surmised the last 3 years might be tough to swallow. Gio really lived up to that entire contract.

The guy has battled adversity his entire career, he keeps proving you can never count him out.

Watch him be one of those guys who plays till hes 45.

Calgary's current cap space is $13.625M, when you add Gio's cap hit of $6.75M the flames have $20.375M in cap space. It's less than $21M, but that's what I get for doing it in my head. Of course you still need to fill several holes, but there are options.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Calgary's current cap space is $13.625M, when you add Gio's cap hit of $6.75M the flames have $20.375M in cap space. It's less than $21M, but that's what I get for doing it in my head. Of course you still need to fill several holes, but there are options.

It won't take long to burn through $21 million. They need a top 6 RW, top 4 defenseman, backup goaltender, bottom six center, etc.

[Lanny_McDonald]

In the flat cap world, $21M is a lot of money.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It won't take long to burn through $21 million. They need a top 6 RW, top 4 defenseman, backup goaltender, bottom six center, etc.

Why would they burn through that cap when as you stated the team is a sinking ship anyhow? They are doomed I tell ya, doomed!

[getbak]

If you take Gio and Froese (not likely to make the team out of camp) off the Flames roster on CapFriendly, they have $21.1 million in cap space.

The problem is that only leaves them with 8 forwards, 3 defencemen, and 1 goalie under contract on the roster. So, that $21.1 million needs to be used to get 10 skaters and a backup goalie.

Filling each of those holes with a league-minimum contract would eat up $8.25 million.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Bingo

This whole thing comes down to two things ...

Giordano out playing his contract to the point that his 6th year (the one that was really supposed to suck) feels like a loss to the team. Good on him.

And a solid signing of Chris Tanev last off season and the rebound he had in a Calgary uniform.

Honestly comes from two good things. The alternate universe where Tanev was either never signed or had a miserable season and missed half the games, and Giordano fell apart half way through his contract wouldn't be a favourable out come to this one.

Still hoping they're not going to pay some silly price, the team needs change. Here it comes.

The team needs change.

Gio likely gone and likely finding himself with one last chance to show he is a playoff contributor, either with the Kraken or with some team that is already a playoff team and adds him as a playoff rental.

Gaudreau and Tkachuk are in their contract years and Gaudreau will be a playoff rental, either for the Flames or for some other team

Monahan is coming back from surgery and has minimal goodwill left from his play prior to 2019-20


A top line of Mangiapane Backlund and Lindholm is not that bad.

Somehow the pieces as they leave have to be turned into guys that play hard and fast and GAF

[ClubFlames]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I am also tempted to go after Deangelo to play on the 3rd pairing, if he gets bought out. He does come with a big red flag with his attitude, but I don't keep track with what he did outside of hockey.

Lot of people keep track of what he did outside of hockey and he is a racist bigot who we do not need on this team. He is an awful human being.

I don't want kids to look up to a player like him. Life is bigger than hockey/Flames.

I will stop supporting the Flames if we sign/trade for him.

[Vinny01]

Going to miss Gio but I think there is a chance he gets to come back after a year away. The team wasn’t good enough to justify the assets to keep the group together. Change is needed and while you hate losing Gio for nothing he is nearly 38 and the cap space will be helpful.

Very excited/nervous to see how different this team looks in a couple weeks

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by timbit

It never ceases to amaze me that when talking about the Flames younger D, and their upside, Hanifin gets left out.

He is younger than Andersson, basically the same age as Kylington, and older than Valimaki.

Just strange.

IMO, he also has the most upside.

It would be great if, with Gio gone, Hanifin decided to up the offensive side of his game. His defensive play turned a corner last season, with Tanev's help. If he turned into a point producer, he'd be a legit first pairing guy.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The team needs change.

Gio likely gone and likely finding himself with one last chance to show he is a playoff contributor, either with the Kraken or with some team that is already a playoff team and adds him as a playoff rental.

Gaudreau and Tkachuk are in their contract years and Gaudreau will be a playoff rental, either for the Flames or for some other team

Monahan is coming back from surgery and has minimal goodwill left from his play prior to 2019-20


A top line of Mangiapane Backlund and Lindholm is not that bad.

Somehow the pieces as they leave have to be turned into guys that play hard and fast and GAF

Thanks for another solid laugh. Where do you come up with this crap?