In their search for legit help on the blueline, Edmonton must look everywhere and that includes the team down the QE2. The Calgary Flames are in a different part of their rebuild, and although the price would be high, Mark Giordano could be a perfect fit for the Oil.
Giordano is in a really productive part of his career. At 30, he’s played over 300 games and displays a wide range of skills and a great deal of leadership. He should be able to play deep into his 30’s and can supply any NHL team with a steady reliable player in all situations.
THE VOLLMAN SLEDGEHAMMER
Here’s this year’s sledgehammer, Giordano is such a nice player. Toughest opposition and some unattractive zone starts (Brodie too) and even with that he’s pretty close to even at Corsi. There’s all kinds of positives—25 minutes a night, six goals on the power play—and he’s a solid defender. The only negative you can find is his size (6.0, 200), but he’s strong enough to win battles.
This is an unusual graph, there’s no one in the "two-way" upper right quadrant and just two in the "shutdown" group. Only Giordano is playing the toughs, which suggests to me the Flames tried a few partners and then moved on. Calgary’s defense isn’t very good here, basically Giordano, Wideman and Brodie, little wonder they’ve added pieces.
Bouwmeester and Butler were the shutdown defenders in 11-12, neither doing a terribly good job. Giordano got the zone start push but still played the toughs—this season really differs only in zone starts—and when they dealt Bouwmeester they moved Giordano into the more difficult role. 
Considering the quality of the team, and the quality of competition he’s facing, Giordano looks like a pretty solid option. Consistent, with some offensive ability, and he’s a lefthander who could probably work with both Petry and Justin Schultz. He did miss 18 games earlier this season due to injury, but that’s an occupational hazard.
Note: The Sledgehammer graphs above are here, and thanks to Extra Skater for the playing card.
NO DAMN WAY CALGARY TRADES HIM TO EDMONTON
Yeah.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
The Oilers have a high draft pick, and the Flames are rebuilding. I’m not going to get into the value of a top 5 pick and Giordano’s worth compared to Michael Dal Colle or Leon Draisaitl, but there should be a deal in there somewhere with additional talent involved to make things equal.
Mark Giordano closely resembles exactly what the Oilers are looking for this offseason.
as a flames fan.
hahahahahahahahahahaha dream on.
But is he truckulante for Burke ?!
Dave BB would b foolish for not considering a deal for the pick and perhaps some other assets. At this stage of calgary’s
Rebuild it makes some sense to consider such an offer. Are
You just sour because the oilers dumped smid on u? Or is it
That the oil dumped S.Staios on the pumpkin head gm?
Maybe third time is the charm?
Another Flames fan here. I second this… BIG TIME. Gio is the heart and soul of the whole team and is a tremendous leader for the young players that will be coming the next few years.
If Gio were traded the Flames would suck hard and for sure sink to the bottom of the league. I don’t think that would promote the proper team mentality.
No doubt about it. U need a couple solid veteran guys around
For mentoring the kids that r going to come up through
The system. Flames have a terrific player in MG.
Hate to break it to you skippy but the Flamers are at the bottom of the league as I write this. All biased aside trading a 30 yr old dman for a top 5 pick doesnt sound to horrible for a rebuilding team
Do you even pay attention to hockey? Your crap team is well below us and we have games in hand. You occupy the WC basement and only the sad sack Sabres are below in the league.
If your going to suck you may as well be the best at it,get some high picks this year and next year.I hope you get to pick 1st in 2015,and we get to watch a real battle of Alberta again.
No offence, and I appreciate you wanting us to get mcdavid in 2015, but how’s that strategy of sucking hard to accumulate picks working out for you guys? I know I’ll get thumped on the trashes for this, given that it’s ON, but I think you guys have been conditioned to overvalue the influx of top flight picks over how you develop them. I’m not opposed to getting high picks, but trading a guy like Gio who is going to be a significant developmental role model in our transitional period doesn’t interest me. I think, perhaps incorrectly, that you guys have had to resort to prospect porn because things are so bleak up there. I just don’t want to overvalue picks that are unproven at best as part of our rebuild model in calgary.
You are right,our young guys were thrown to the dogs,I wouldn’t trade Gio either.But you need to get some top picks.With all the losing in Edmonton,it is still fun to watch players like Hall,and Nug develop.I too remember when Alberta was called death valley.
Hey Cowboy, got news for you, the Flames, are already at the bottom of the league.
you better scroll down the page a little more – there is another team looking up at the Flames.
@ Albertabeef…do thee numbers look familiar to you….30, 30, 29, …those are the Oiler recent finishes in the standings or draft positioning..whatever makes you feel better. Oh by the way there is another 29 in your near future.
Ok – I’ll try this a little slower for you. Edmonton is BELOW Calgary – that’s why they are looking UP to them. I was saying something NICE about your team. I’m an Oiler fan, but I can see simple comments are still beyond you Flames fools.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the Flames are already at the bottom of the league.
i dunno, man. the 2nd ad 3rd picks (Reinhart and Dreisatl), along with Monahan, Bertschi, Backlund? that’s a pretty attractive core. You’d be a fool to not at least consider it.
Blasphemy!
I agree with the pedigree that Giordano brings. No question
He is a solid Dman. And he would b a nice addition to our
Horrendous defence. A defence which for all intents and purposes is 4 # 4’s, and a 5,6 on a good teams depth chart.
I’m not sold on giving up a shot at Ekblad on a Mgio deal.
However, I suppose its far from a lock that we get Ekblad.
My question Al is aside from incorporating our pick in a deal
For MG, is their any combo of assets that are attractive
Enough for calgary to make that deal? Thoughts?
Giordano would be the perfect fit…..dream on in technicolor LT.
Yes far from perfect. Good player though. Better than any of our guys
Keep dreaming Oiler fans, keep dreaming.
U guys r so sensitive. Can’t we play nice? We’re both bottom feeders. We have both suffered long enough. Is this all we
Have left to feel better about our teams? Firing shots back
And forth? Hmmm. Maybe it is. Its a sad state for our teams
Will do.
We give them Smid, then take Gio? Bwahahah.
Not sure I want to give up 15 years of play(Ekblad) for 4-6 years from Giordano… But There’s no question that it is worth a look. He could be crucial in the development of guys lime Jultz, Nurse, Marincin, Klefbom, Fedun, and Gernat.
Low tide suggesting making trades with the team down south is not a good ideal. First of we should never metion the flames with out being passed off secondly I do not want anything that has worn the burning C. To be waring our oilers logo.
We don’t need mad flame disease in oil country
Haha… I’m not sure if you remember but your captain Andrew Ferrence use to ply his trade for the flames… I’m pretty sure he’s helping the Oilers a lot more than the vets you had before.
But as for Gio going to the Oilers, never going to happen.
I have no issues with ex flames dawning our oilers creast as long as they come from other organizations other than our rival down south, I prefer to have flames and oilers battle it out on the ice and grab a beer after the oilers win.what I don’t want to see is two organizations holding hands on and off the ice and play patty cake with each other.
Fat chance. No way I do a blockbuster with Calgary out of fear we lose the trade!
As much as I hate the flames they have a lot of solid gritty players that I’d take on our third line any day. Gio would be the perfect number one to teach our young d. Just not to sure how you’d make that trade without giving up one of our top players
Well since we are talking Calgary, anybody know of the relationship Burke and Scrivens have? 🙂
I think this season is warping your collective minds.
This is blasphemy.
Not going to happen.
It’s just not a good fit… as a Flames fan I’m pretty pleased with what the Flames have in development with regards to forward prospects but speaking honestly I think our organizational depth at defense is lacking so I would have little desire to see it weakened.
That and the fact that I think a sizable portion of the fanbase (AKA the consumer of the product) would find the idea of trading the captain to the eternal rival distasteful.
Not that it’s impossible… as far as I’m concerned no one is untouchable… but I think the cost would be such that no deal is realistically possible.
As a Flames fan I think we can accommodate! Eberle plus 2014 1st.
Before the tarsiers get on board don’t worry. Your leadership has proven they are not capable of pulling the trigger on a major trade. Read my lips…we do not want your garbage in return for a captain and top defenseman! Open your eyes McT….you will always be a sewer team unless you have the guts to give up some core assets!
I think this would be the perfect fit! It’s as plain as day the chemistry he and Eberle would have. I don’t know if anyone has seen it but there is a commercial out there where the two of them can pass the puck IN THE AIR!
Imagine how good our PP would look then! ~
Those water bottles don’t stand a chance!
As an Oiler fan, I can’t believe I am agreeing with a Flames fan, the Flames aren’t trading Giordano. The guy is overrated anyway, Calgary does that to all their players, I can’t believe some people actually thought he should be on Team Canada. You need help Lowetide, I think 7 am is a bit early to be hitting the sauce.
I think LT has only one purpose with this blog. He wants to find out how many Flames fans are reading the Oilersnation.
I thought Iginla was the heart and soul of the Flames??
You realize Iggy was traded a while back right?
Hard to be the heart and soul of a team you don’t even play for.
Of course I know he was traded. My POINT was that if Iginla gets traded what makes any Flames fan thinks anyone else can’t be traded !!!!!
All the responses that Giordano is the “heart and soul” of the flames is a weak response.
As Oiler fans we’re quite familiar with “untouchable” players getting traded.
Wow I never would of thought oilers fans would be
Be so in favor of making trades with the flames, my references to not making trades with the flames is very simple why would you have a enemy play for you and expect them to give you full commitment.
Am I the only one who is oppose to this? Wow
My man….
Put down the PS3 controller, case up the Call of Duty, put away the espionage novels and chill out…
This is hockey not the cold war!
Players are not spies, double agents, or enemy combatants!!
Give your head a shake!
The NATION is trashing your post cause its SH3!T and lacks logic…not because we are in favour of “the enemy” playing for us…whatever that means….
THIS IS HOCKEY MAN!
Should learn how to skate before calling your self hockey Man who probably still living in parents basement
Hahahaha!
And learn to read….
I didn’t call my self hockey man, a hockey man, the hockey man, or any hockey man…….
I said “THIS IS HOCKEY MAN” as in this is a game….
You crack me up….as in your a funny guy!
Still…trade the Captain of the Flames to Edmonton.
That’s just craze.
Lowetide is just trolling us here.
Worked well though. He got things going over on FN as well.
Just got fired up!!! Having a bit of fun no harm attended, have a good Friday and no can’t stand the flames
Trade you Butler for Gagner.
China town man Oiler Gm for the day, Mmm you give me Butler and I will give you finger from Toronto that we picked up on waiver lol
This is one of the worst acquisition suggestions I’ve heard in a long time. It is actually worst than talking about Shea Weber.
“This is hockey, man.” Punctuation does make a difference.
I believe that the two things that kept Calgary in the playoff race years after they had been counted out was their strong D. Giordano is another example. He’s a terrific defenseman. I just figure the asking price would be very dear.
Just as no one ever thought Smid would never be traded to Calgary..
Gio, isn’t going to win in Calgary. He may be the heart and soul of the team but he’s 10yrs older then the Ashes 20yr old core they’re building..
If Gio was anywhere other then Calgary in this position, this trade would happen. I wouldn’t bet against it. Burkie loves those high picks when he’s starting fresh with a team.
Flames fans just can’t see how ugly their next few seasons are about to be lol.
Will they trade him? Probably not, but then again, last year I was certain that they wouldn’t trade Iginla and had their heads up their collectives assets. Turns out I was wrong about the former, perhaps not the latter.
And besides, different guy calling the shots now. Whats to say they don’t trade him if the right offer is on the table?
That being said, I don’t think MacTavish will put an offer on the table that Calgary would be looking for.
April Fools!
Lowetide you usually post some pretty rational arguments…but this…this is retarded.
You are an idiot….
Giordano will never report. Same can be said for numerous other top end veterans in the NHL!
The Oilers are a loser franchise that after 7.5 years is in need of a major overhaul. They live for draft day and the rest of the league is aware of this. Being traded to the Oilers also means existing player value will severely diminish due to week franchise, inability to attract top talent and win games as well as incompetence in team operations and player development!
I am a FlamesNation visitor to your site.
We have some on FN offering the idea of Gio for Eberle + Oil 2014 first (and some are throwing in the 2015 first as well).
I say they are bats..t crazy. What say you OilerNation?
Yep…they’re batsh*t crazy.
There wouldn’t be a single 1st round pick included with Eberle for Gio.
In fact it would likely be the Flames kicking in the draft pick.
In my books 24 to 30 is the basement, Once your in , there is not much to choose between the 24 or 30 basement postion. At least 29 gets a better chance at a draft pick.
Auhhhh, the Oiler nation mantra…… Better picks
The Flames should be trading Gio sooner rather than later while he still has good value. By the time the Flames are any good, he will be too old and will have lost most of his value.
Why not get a great piece, or pieces now instead of a 2nd rounder or worse later?
Wow, this conversation went downhill fast.
For the FLAMES FANS who are clogging up the comments section, two points were made in this article:
1> Is Giordano the type of defenseman Edmonton needs? YES.
2> Could he possibly be traded away? YES.
These facts have nothing to do with the not-so-intelligent conversation underway about division standings and sentimenal attachment to a player. Try and stay on topic.