Giordano Possible Injury Thread - Update: Giordano out tonight vs the Islanders

[GioforPM]

The Flames' main injuries were Raymond (not missed too much), Stajan (useful but usually 4th line) and Backlund (could've used him). It was early in the season, so not intense hockey and the rookies could ease in.

And, as said, the D was intact and they were the main reason for early success, along with good to great goaltending at stretches.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by troutman

He has missed quite a few games the last few years, after having two 82 game seasons.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p....php?pid=71812

He plays hard, plays a lot of minutes, and he is getting older.

Can't change his DNA. Really hope he is back soon.

Yeah, I agree he doesn't play a real physical game but it's the nature of his job to take a lot of hits and while he's in great shape, he isn't the biggest guy out there and I think he gets a little worn down.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I think people's memory is biased because he was fairly shakey. In his 14 games he was defensively the worst defenseman despite getting the softest minutes. He wasn't good by any metric.

However, he seems to have really taken a step in the AHL. Still not sure how ready he is

Yeah, as I recall it he was pretty underwhelming. I hear he's stepped it up in the AHL. I sure wish he was stepping in for a different guy.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Yeah, as I recall it he was pretty underwhelming. I hear he's stepped it up in the AHL. I sure wish he was stepping in for a different guy.

I mean he was barely a 20 year old last year and did great for such a young kid, but to suggest he was good last year is incorrect

[Mr.Coffee]

if anyone remembers Calgary last year, when Giordano went down in November or whatever it was, so did the Flames season. The minutes and Norris caliber play are irreplaceable and I hate to be pessimistic or doomsday-esque but the reality is that this team is a borderline bottom 3 Western conference team without Giordano.

He is that important. Calgary was terrible without him last season and things likely aren't much better this season.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by heep223

We may have been badly injured but our D were intact and playing great.

I like your attitude though....GFG

True, I get that. Still, like you said, being as positive as the situation allows. GFG!

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The Flames' main injuries were Raymond (not missed too much), Stajan (useful but usually 4th line) and Backlund (could've used him). It was early in the season, so not intense hockey and the rookies could ease in.

And, as said, the D was intact and they were the main reason for early success, along with good to great goaltending at stretches.

If I recall Raymond was doing really well before he got injured. And yeah, Gio is a much bigger hit, but we were completely naked down the middle except for Monahan, and as good as he is, it's only his second year!

Just saying, as bad as this is, weirder things have happened this year. The year in general is already really weird, in a good way. So yeah, Go Flames Go! Win it for Gio!

[Igster]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

if anyone remembers Calgary last year, when Giordano went down in November or whatever it was, so did the Flames season. The minutes and Norris caliber play are irreplaceable and I hate to be pessimistic or doomsday-esque but the reality is that this team is a borderline bottom 3 Western conference team without Giordano.

He is that important. Calgary was terrible without him last season and things likely aren't much better this season.

[GioforPM]

Raymond had two really good games, and the others before his injury were meh. That's who he is (and I've generally been a defender of his here).

Even more than centres' a number 1 D-man is missed. Look at teams who relied on Pronger with and without him. Look at the Flames last year with and without Gio (they would have challenged for a PO spot last year with him the whole year IMO).

ETA: I also thought last year Gio was Norris calibre, and got screwed by injury. Least of the concerns, but he might get screwed out of it this year as well.

[Obsidian]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

if anyone remembers Calgary last year, when Giordano went down in November or whatever it was, so did the Flames season. The minutes and Norris caliber play are irreplaceable and I hate to be pessimistic or doomsday-esque but the reality is that this team is a borderline bottom 3 Western conference team without Giordano.

He is that important. Calgary was terrible without him last season and things likely aren't much better this season.

Luckily Brodie has grown to be twice the player he was last time Gio went down and is like a Giordano clone in the making but with better skating.

The team will rally around his absence and if they can hold up at .500 or better then Gio can come back to save the team in a few weeks.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

if anyone remembers Calgary last year, when Giordano went down in November or whatever it was, so did the Flames season. The minutes and Norris caliber play are irreplaceable and I hate to be pessimistic or doomsday-esque but the reality is that this team is a borderline bottom 3 Western conference team without Giordano.

He is that important. Calgary was terrible without him last season and things likely aren't much better this season.

: puts fingers in ears:

La la la la, la la la. LA LA LA LA LA!

EDIT: To add, I know your right. Just trying to stay positive here.

[GioforPM]

This is indeed the big test for Brodie. I think his decision making has been suspect lately, and he's nowhere near the defensive presence of Gio. But maybe he will tone down the risk taking a bit as the new number one guy.

[Mr.Coffee]

The team can rally all they want but the reality is they aren't playing very well as it is, and they just lost by far their best player. No, Brodie is not as good as Giordano. I'm not convinced he is a better skater, close though. He definitely does not make as good of decisions with the puck but his first pass is good I guess. Doesn't have Giordano's shot either.

I dunno I obviously would love to be wrong, but I haven't been convinced that this team can sustain a playoff trajectory in an intense playoff race after losing their best defenceman player. Better be a short amount of time or the season is screwed for sure.

[azzarish]

Surely someone must have seen him? Seems like he's gone in to hiding.

[Obsidian]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

The team can rally all they want but the reality is they aren't playing very well as it is, and they just lost by far their best player. No, Brodie is not as good as Giordano. I'm not convinced he is a better skater, close though. He definitely does not make as good of decisions with the puck but his first pass is good I guess. Doesn't have Giordano's shot either.

I dunno I obviously would love to be wrong, but I haven't been convinced that this team can sustain a playoff trajectory in an intense playoff race after losing their best defenceman. Better be a short amount of time or the season is screwed for sure.

I'll take that as your resignation for the season, then.

I mean clearly no one can convince you that the Flames will do anything other than drop off a cliff, so what's left to discuss right?

(also Brodie's +/- and goals in comparison to Gio suggest otherwise...but sure can't argue with you!)

[azzarish]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

if anyone remembers Calgary last year, when Giordano went down in November or whatever it was, so did the Flames season. The minutes and Norris caliber play are irreplaceable and I hate to be pessimistic or doomsday-esque but the reality is that this team is a borderline bottom 3 Western conference team without Giordano.

He is that important. Calgary was terrible without him last season and things likely aren't much better this season.

We will now see how far this team has really come, how far they've progressed. Because, if we suddenly start playing like crud then maybe the rest of them weren't as good as we thought they were.

Not saying they aren't, I'm just saying that the performances without him will tell us a lot about the team in general.

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

if anyone remembers Calgary last year, when Giordano went down in November or whatever it was, so did the Flames season. The minutes and Norris caliber play are irreplaceable and I hate to be pessimistic or doomsday-esque but the reality is that this team is a borderline bottom 3 Western conference team without Giordano.

He is that important. Calgary was terrible without him last season and things likely aren't much better this season.

Well then there you have it, lets just forfeit the games we have till Gio is back.

Maybe they lose every game till he comes back but I wouldn't compare any of this year to last season. This is a different team, a team with more confidence, a team that knows what they need to do to win, a team that has a tremendous work ethic, the situation is completely different and last year is irrelevant.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Obsidian

I'll take that as your resignation for the season, then.

I mean clearly no one can convince you that the Flames will do anything other than drop off a cliff, so what's left to discuss right?

(also Brodie's +/- and goals in comparison to Gio suggest otherwise...but sure can't argue with you!)

No, not quite. I should have caveat my comments that if they can pull the trigger on a 3-4 Dman type trade it would help. It would be pretty dicey still however, yeah, not even sure that would work. Maybe I guess but huge long shot. The notion that Wotherspoon can come in and replace what Giordano brings is ridiculous and I think (hope) you'd agree with that.

Also I'm not sure what your arguing with Brodie there but if you think he is at or better than Giordano I don't really know what to further discuss. There is a reason Brodie is not in Norris discussions or invited to the all-star game. Also Brodie plays one D position and can't clone and then pass the puck to himself so I'm not really sure what your point is.

There is actually lots to discuss and that is why I am here discussing it.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

if anyone remembers Calgary last year, when Giordano went down in November or whatever it was, so did the Flames season. The minutes and Norris caliber play are irreplaceable and I hate to be pessimistic or doomsday-esque but the reality is that this team is a borderline bottom 3 Western conference team without Giordano.

He is that important. Calgary was terrible without him last season and things likely aren't much better this season.

I'd say things are better without Giordano this year, though it still will be incredibly difficult.

In: Gaudreau, Hiller, Raymond,
Better: Ramo, Wideman, Hudler, Brodie, Monahan, Bouma
Worse: Glencross
Out: Cammaleri, Gagliardi, Stempniak, Westgarth, McGrattan, Butler

I'd say overall Calgary is a better team than last year by a fair margin

[Mister Yamoto]

Trade Gio.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

No, not quite. I should have caveat my comments that if they can pull the trigger on a 3-4 Dman type trade it would help. It would be pretty dicey still however, yeah, not even sure that would work. Maybe I guess but huge long shot. The notion that Wotherspoon can come in and replace what Giordano brings is ridiculous and I think (hope) you'd agree with that.

Also I'm not sure what your arguing with Brodie there but if you think he is at or better than Giordano I don't really know what to further discuss. There is a reason Brodie is not in Norris discussions or invited to the all-star game. Also Brodie plays one D position and can't clone and then pass the puck to himself so I'm not really sure what your point is.

There is actually lots to discuss and that is why I am here discussing it.

I think most people were taking issue with the defeatism in your earlier post.

I've seen Brodie be at one end of the rink and the first one to the other end, so he might just be able to pass to himself. I don't think Brodie is near Gio yet as well. But for a limited time frame, Brodie can play really well - he's had the odd game where he's been better than Gio. And this is the time to take that next step for him.