When Gio was selected as the new captain, I was somewhat skeptical. After the first year of his captaincy, I saw a player who elevated every game, made spectacular defensive plays and brought this consistency and edge to compete.
What a pleasure to watch this player for so many years!
Thanks Gio
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I have been very critical of Treliving but the Gio contract simply ends up being a master stroke. We had all the best years of that deal, just an incredible outcome.
Assuming no fairy tale return for Gio, he will go down as the face of the team and major trophy winner during a period where the team accomplished little. I'd retire his number, and that's coming from someone who only thinks face of the franchise types should have retired numbers. For the Flames that is only 9, 14 and 12. And now 5 IMO.
The downer is we never saw much from him in the playoffs which is unfortunately part of how I'll remember him.
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I have been very critical of Treliving but the Gio contract simply ends up being a master stroke. We had all the best years of that deal, just an incredible outcome.
Assuming no fairy tale return for Gio, he will go down as the face of the team and major trophy winner during a period where the team accomplished little. I'd retire his number, and that's coming from someone who only thinks face of the franchise types should have retired numbers. For the Flames that is only 9, 14 and 12. And now 5 IMO.
The downer is we never saw much from him in the playoffs which is unfortunately part of how I'll remember him.
That's exactly how I'm looking at it. This gives the Flames options to shake up the roster and leadership that will hopefully help them move in the right direction. I also see it as a bit of disrespect from the Kraken to not let someone like Gio choose how to end his career. I don't see going forward the relationship being that great between the Kraken and Flames.
I will miss Giordano. One thing I will always say about him is that I can't remember a single game that he looked to be taking off. I always saw him work hard and try to win out there. One of the NHL's best captains, and a pillar in the community that simply won't be replaced.
Best of luck to him, and I hope that he gets traded at the trade deadline to a team that wins the cup.
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I will miss Giordano. One thing I will always say about him is that I can't remember a single game that he looked to be taking off. I always saw him work hard and try to win out there. One of the NHL's best captains, and a pillar in the community that simply won't be replaced.
Best of luck to him, and I hope that he gets traded at the trade deadline to a team that wins the cup.
I have a clear memory of him taking a gruesome puck to the face against the Canucks. Absolutely bloodied, busted and I'm pretty sure he was missing chiclets.
He actually came back that same game stitched up and wearing a cage, and was an absolute warrior. The Flames? Basically mailed it in, and got their asses whipped if I remember correctly. This is circa 2010-2012.
He's always worked hard and been a warrior, in addition to being a talented star.
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Kinda funny thing happened. In 1997 I was at 3 cheers on 11th and in comes Theo, McCarthy, and a quiet new guy Jerome Iginla. Jerome came in quietly and hung in the back low profile.
About 10 years later I was in Joeys Eau Claire and in comes Dion with a few ladies and a new guy Giordano who was quiet on the side.
Find it funny the humble guys became long term all stars and the meat heads…meat headed.
Both class acts and miss them.
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Kinda funny thing happened. In 1997 I was at 3 cheers on 11th and in comes Theo, McCarthy, and a quiet new guy Jerome Iginla. Jerome came in quietly and hung in the back low profile.
About 10 years later I was in Joeys Eau Claire and in comes Dion with a few ladies and a new guy Giordano who was quiet on the side.
Find it funny the humble guys became long term all stars and the meat heads…meat headed.
Both class acts and miss them.
Regehr was another example. Very quiet, humble and unassuming man. Unless you pissed him off.
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I have been very critical of Treliving but the Gio contract simply ends up being a master stroke. We had all the best years of that deal, just an incredible outcome.
Assuming no fairy tale return for Gio, he will go down as the face of the team and major trophy winner during a period where the team accomplished little. I'd retire his number, and that's coming from someone who only thinks face of the franchise types should have retired numbers. For the Flames that is only 9, 14 and 12. And now 5 IMO.
The downer is we never saw much from him in the playoffs which is unfortunately part of how I'll remember him.
It’s a team game.
Unfortunately, Gio got injured in 2009, the Iggy/Cammy season. Probably the best look that group had at a deep playoff run, and I don’t think they ever recovered from Losing him.
The Flames teams he made the playoffs with as captain were never built well enough or coached well enough to go on any sort of run, except maybe the Peters team. That one he can sort of wear.
I don’t know how much more the guy could’ve reasonably given to the team and the city.
__________________ ”All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.”
Really disappointing Flames news, really an end of an era here. Versatile, dependable, a complete professional and community oriented. A great defenseman who sacrificed his body every night, never took a shift off and lead by example. This team will miss him. I hope Gio comes back next season at a cheaper cap hit. Thanks for everything Gio.
Miss the playoffs in the easiest division we've seen in ages and still give Seattle their best player in the expansion draft. Now that's some wizardly work.
