Mark Giordano

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by moon

One indication that his numbers might not be that high is the fact that any team in the NHL could have made an offer sheet on him knowing that Sutter did not want to give him a one-way deal but nobody wanted to.

Obviously, NHL teams have made mistakes in the past but it is unlikely that everyone would pass on a guy that can reasonably be expected to put up 30 points next season.

How presumptuous of you to think so. We have no idea exactly why no other teams tendered offer-sheets to Giordano, so to say that every team "passed" on him last summer is unfounded. For all we know, there was interest but an understanding that any reasonable offer would be matched by Sutter. Bear in mind that the Flames did not cast off Giordano: they still retained his rights after he bolted for Russia, and any declaration on our part regarding how much or how little Sutter valued his playing rights is nothing but guesswork.

Originally Posted by moon

...Sutter also saw something in him to not offer him a guaranteed spot after his 15 points in 48 games. Doesn't seem like me to be a guy that is going to be top 4 and get 30 points just one year later. Even if he played "top line minutes" in a second rate league like the RSL.

I would hazard to guess that Sutter probably sees things a little differently than you do. The fact of the matter is that we have NO IDEA how much or how little Giordano has progressed since his last NHL contract. But, what we do know is that he considers him valuable enough to bring him back to the NHL on a long-term one-way deal. If the rumours are to be believed, then the Flames were ready to bring Giordano back to NA as early as last January, but were unable to do so because of the CBA. I find your pessimism excessive, and I believe that it runs contrary to what we know in fact regarding Mark Giordano's year in Russia, the Flames contract negotiations with him this summer, and the little that we have seen in training camp this weekend.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

How presumptuous of you to think so. We have no idea exactly why no other teams tendered offer-sheets to Giordano, so to say that every team "passed" on him last summer is unfounded. For all we know, there was interest but an understanding that any reasonable offer would be matched by Sutter. Bear in mind that the Flames did not cast off Giordano: they still retained his rights after he bolted for Russia, and any declaration on our part regarding how much or how little Sutter valued his playing rights is nothing but guesswork.

Me saying that teams passed on him was based on the assumption that was made that it was totally reasonable to expect him to be a 30 point player this year. I doubt that teams would have passed on a 30 point player based on the fact that Sutter may have matched the offer. Especially when Sutter had shown a reluctance.

I agree with what you said is what likely occured but it was based on the fact that teams did not see Giordano as likely putting up 30 points in the NHL last season or this upcoming season.

Offer sheets have been put on lesser players than 30 point defensemen and on guys who have been in better positions to be re-signed by their team so if teams believed that Giordano was a potential 30+ point guy and that Sutter was happy to let him go to Russia it would seem odd that they all just said screw it no point in making a offer.

May be presumptious but based on how GM's have operated in the past it sure seems presumptious that they would all let a potential top 50-70 defenseman, in terms of scoring, go play in another league.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

I don't get the hate for this guy some people have. He's a 3rd pairing guy making less than 900k. What else do you want from him? He's not a Norris candidate for the next Phaneuf but is refreshing to see the Flames finally acquire a young player that is mobile, fast, skilled, good at passing and can produce points. Aucoin can but is slow and can't match Giordano's mobile or skating game, or even his passing game for that matter. If Gio develops into a top 4 that's great but his bread and butter will be speed, skating, breakout passes, carrying the puck out of the zone and his snap shot on the point. I like him on the pp with Dion because he streak the puck up ice and fire a shot that isn't an inaccurate blast.

There's no reason he can't get 7 goals and 15 assists this year.

I imagine that I get included in the "hate" for the guy so I will respond to your comments.

I think he will be a 3rd pairing guy and agree that the 7 goals and 15 assists are not unreasonable expectations.

My issue with him is the people who think that he will fit in well on a pairing with Phaneuf, getting second line minutes and will be an improvement over Eriksson.

I have no problem with Giordano playing 5-6 (hopefully 6) type minutes ES and getting some second unit PP minutes, but if people think that he is any sort of upgrade on Eriksson in terms of defense and giveaways I think they are in for a big surprise.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by moon

Me saying that teams passed on him was based on the assumption that was made that it was totally reasonable to expect him to be a 30 point player this year. I doubt that teams would have passed on a 30 point player based on the fact that Sutter may have matched the offer. Especially when Sutter had shown a reluctance.

You are taking that 30 figure way too seriously. He said 20-30, not 30 on the nose.

Looking at that list I made, there are alot of late round picks or FA signed defenseman in their 2nd or 3rd year in that 20-30 range, and 30+.

Also, the value of Gio to the Flames is more then just the fantasy-hockey-GM mentality of "name can get 30 pts, sign him." An acquired player would have to fit a certain role on a team. Its such a blank statement to correlate FA offer sheets to a players value, without taking into account the saturated market of the number of bottom pairing defenseman and the needs of said team IMO.

[FlameZilla]

There's a feature on our captain on NHL.com today: Five Questions with Mark Giordano.

500 games, leads all NHL defensemen in scoring and Norris trophy candidate. Safe to say going back over this thread: not many people expected this from an undrafted FA defenseman.

Can we change the title of the OP to 'Mark frickin Giordano' yet?

[PeteMoss]

Hard to believe there was once a debate at who should be the captain after Iginla left.

[ramizle]

I second the motion of changing the title to 'Mark frickin Giordano'

[GioforPM]

Those are some funny 2008 posts in hindsight.

[djsFlames]

Stats since October 2013:

115GP 25G 65A 90PTS +31

[#-3]

I liked the argument that it wasn't to much of a stretch to hope he could become a 20-30 point guy.

apparently we weren't stretching nearly enough.

[Street Pharmacist]

Love the "mooning" that went on in this thread. Yes moon, people will be needing for Anders Ericsson after watching Giordano play. So certain in his pessimism back then

[foshizzle11]

I was coming in here to post this same article and this quote specifically from Bob Hartley.

"I have made lots of good moves and bad moves in my coaching career, but I would rank putting Mark Giordano captain of this hockey club probably as the best move of my career," Flames coach Bob Hartley told NHL.com in December.

I agree with this, naming Mark Giordano as our captain has been huge for our team, the locker room in general and his personal success. I can only imagine the confidence boast it gave him to take over from someone like Iginla.

He is our backbone and I hope he can pass the torch someday to someone who will provide the same sort of leadership, skill, determination and compete.

I third the motion to update the thread title.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

He's not a Norris candidate

Pssh, shows what you know.






Undrafted kid to borderline NHL player to NHL captain and strong Norris candidate.

[Anduril]

I see him as a #5-7 guy, might hit 30 points if he's lucky.

[Blarg]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Can we change the title of the OP to 'Mark frickin Giordano' yet?

I say leave it. In a way the title mirrors his play style and his undrafted status. Solid, initially underrated, and no pomp or circumstance.
There is no need to add "fricken" to his name.

[thymebalm]

Reading Moon's assessment of Giordano made me smile from ear to ear.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Reading Moon's assessment of Giordano made me smile from ear to ear.

It makes me wonder what name he's using to post on CP these days.

There's no need to change the thread title. "Frickin" is tacitly implied whenever anyone mentions Mark Giordano.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

It makes me wonder what name he's using to post on CP these days.

There's no need to change the thread title. "Frickin" is tacitly implied whenever anyone mentions Mark Giordano.

I would still change the title though - to just

"Gio"

[Enoch Root]

'Frickin' isn't good enough for Mark Giordano

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

There's no reason he can't get 7 goals and 15 assists this month

Fyp

Awesome awesome. I remember lurking when Gio left to Russia, and always rooted for him. Of course, my hunches were often the result of a successful NHL 05/06/etc campaign.. On that note, I also thought Byron Ritchie deserved more ice time due to me using his unrealistic speed to snag a scoring title or two