Wouldn’t this be something? The Edmonton Oilers are reportedly linked to adding a former Calgary Flames captain. That would be an unexpected twist to the Battle of Alberta for the upcoming season.
Last week, news of Mark Giordano began swirling around the hockey world with the defender remaining unsigned. According to his agent, the Toronto Maple Leafs (his most recent team), the Calgary Flames, and the Edmonton Oilers were all teams that they had talked with.
Giordano would be, once again, the oldest player in the NHL at 41 years of age on opening night. In his most recent season with the Maple Leafs, he played 46 games and recorded nine points. He averaged 16:37 in ice time per game, indicating a significantly reduced role already.
It seems that Giordano’s desire to play another season is largely a desire to win an ever-elusive Stanley Cup to cap off his lengthy career. Spending the first 15 seasons of his career in Calgary beginning in 2005–06 did not afford him many chances for a deep playoff run. And his most recent few seasons in Toronto have ended with the same conclusion.
So, it makes sense for Giordano’s side to be interested in Edmonton, given this season’s Cup or bust expectations. And likewise for the Oilers to be interested in Giordano, given his long career, experience including a Norris Trophy, and a developing blueline core with some younger defenders and holes to fill.
Giordano is clearly on the downswing of his career at this point, but there is significant value in adding someone with his resume to the organization.
Giordano’s career
Giordano came to Calgary as an undrafted free agent with a huge opportunity for development. Spend some time growing in the AHL and then jump into the NHL. He took that opportunity and ran.
Giordano spent parts of three seasons between the AHL and NHL before joining Calgary full time for the 2008–09 season. He was with Calgary until the Seattle Kraken took him in their expansion draft for the 2021–22 season.
In his 15 years with the Flames, he played 949 games, recorded 509 points, and spent eight seasons as team captain. Within that stretch, he won a Norris Trophy in 2018–19 as a 35-year-old during a career best season that saw him tally 74 points in 78 games, as well as a Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2019–20.
Giordano was immediately named captain of the Kraken on his arrival, though his tenure there lasted less than a season until he was traded to the Maple Leafs.
All-in-all, Giordano currently sits with 1148 games played, 158 goals, 577 points, and almost nine seasons as a captain in the NHL.
Does Giordano make sense for the Oilers?
Given his recent trajectory, there does not seem to be a fit for Giordano in Edmonton. Although his experience and leadership would be vital to add for a team in this stage, it is hard to justify using a roster spot on someone who does not have a fit in the lineup. He is a left defender, and would end up behind Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, and Brett Kulak. And Kulak is more than good enough to have earned and keep a regular place in the lineup.
This brings up some interesting possibilities with lineup composition, as Kulak is no stranger to playing on the right side, which the Oilers are weak at anyways. This opens up the third pairing left side spot, where Giordano could slot in for a game once in a while.
However, even in the later stages of his career, Giordano has continued to have a positive impact on the ice. He may be losing a step and not able to keep up all the time, but he has found a way to be a reliable player with a reasonably positive impact and a good option on the penalty kill.
Given the list of defenders fighting for the sixth/seventh spot in Edmonton’s lineup, Giordano would not be any worse than the others in that battle. In fact, his presence would likely increase the competition and drive amongst those defenders.
At the very least, offering a PTO to Giordano could be a wise decision, whether or not they find a fit for him with a contract once he takes the ice is another question.
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
