Mark Giordano's agent said there have been talks about the defenseman with a few NHL teams, but no squad is a perfect fit. Here's why.
Veteran defenseman Mark Giordano is still looking for an NHL team to call home for the 2024-25 season.
Four teams, including the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and Toronto Maple Leafs, have reportedly been in talks with him, his agent, Rich Winter, told Sportsnet 960 last Friday. Of those teams, it appears the Flames weren't interested.
If Giordano joined the Oilers, it would be his first stint with the club. In Calgary and Toronto, he'd return to places he has called home in the NHL before. Edmonton would pair a former Norris Trophy winner with a Cup contender. It would be a more practical decision. The Flames and Maple Leafs would be the romantic and nostalgic storylines. Still, none are a perfect fit.
Edmonton Oilers
Pros
Giordano on the Oilers makes sense for a few reasons.
First, it is well known they are looking for a depth defenseman. The team lost Cody Ceci, Vincent Desharnais and Philip Broberg. While they brought in Ty Emberson, there's a hole there that Giordano could realistically fill.
He offers veteran leadership, can play on the penalty kill and still eats minutes if called upon. He could play in the top four if required, but he would also understand his role even if he wasn't a regular in the lineup.
Cons
Age is a factor. At 40 years old, he would be the oldest active player in the NHL if signed.
On some teams, that might not be an issue. For the Oilers, an already aging team, it's a factor if the team is worried about being slow. Adding anyone on a one-way contract is potentially problematic for salary cap purposes, with the Oilers having only about $945,000 of space, according to PuckPedia.
Ideally, the Oilers want a right-shot defenseman, and Giordano shoots left.
Calgary Flames
Pros
The Flames could use more veteran players to surround their youngsters as they begin a retool or rebuild.
Giordano coming back would also be one of the romantic storylines of the season, having been their captain for eight seasons. He is a glue guy who could help develop and shield the prospects coming into their own.
Eventually, Giordano could transition into a management role, but even with Calgary signing Jarred Tinordi to a one-year contract and bringing in Tyson Barrie on a tryout, the Flames could still use some defensive depth.
Cons
The Flames and GM Craig Conroy don't seem too keen on the idea of Giordano coming back. Winter told Calgary radio he tried to sell the defenseman's return to Calgary, and Conroy wasn't biting.
It sounds like that team's focus is on the future, not the past. In much the same way Chicago wanted to move on from Patrick Kane, perhaps the Flames want the storyline of the year to be on what's next, not what was.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Pros
The Maple Leafs could use another defenseman, especially if this rumored signing of Jani Hakanpaa doesn't pan out.
Giordano knows the Leafs well, having played the last three seasons for them. The players respect him, and he put up some depth numbers there, with 24 points in 78 games in 2022-23.
The club tried to reshape its blueline over the off-season, but a familiar face wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, especially if he comes back at a low price.
Cons
Bringing back players from last season doesn't exactly reshape a blueline.
The Maple Leafs want a new identity, and Giordano's responsibilities were cut back last season. He had only nine points in 46 games, and he didn't play in the playoffs.
It's not clear if new coach Craig Berube would use Giordano differently, but the organization might think his time as an NHL regular is over.
Giordano is only a handful of seasons removed from winning the Norris Trophy in 2018-19, which makes more interesting that he's not found an NHL job yet. Any one of these three teams should consider him if he's willing to come in at a low cost, knows his role and offers tremendous leadership.
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