Veteran defenseman Mark Giordano is talking to several NHL teams as he searches for a contract ahead of the 2024-25 season. The Calgary Flames are reportedly among them.
Giordano’s agent, Ritch Winter, recently revealed on Sportsnet’s Flames Talk that the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and Buffalo Sabres have all had conversations about Giordano. There is varied interest among the four.
The 39-year-old defenseman isn’t necessarily a regular in the NHL any longer, and as the league’s oldest player, he likely understands how limited his role might be next season. Still, Giordano has no plans to retire.
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With the right situation and a coaching staff managing his minutes carefully, Giordano could still bring significant value to a contending team.
How Interested Are the Flames?
A potential reunion with the Flames would hold nostalgic and sentimental value, as Giordano spent 15 seasons with the team. He played his best hockey in Calgary, serving as captain. He even won the Norris Trophy in 2019. However, a return to Calgary seems unlikely.
Winter admitted that Flames General Manager Craig Conroy didn’t show much interest in bringing Giordano back. It sounds like the Flames may be moving in a different direction, focusing on the future and not the past.
For Giordano, the Flames also offer the least likely destination to win. If they could be more competitive than people assume, they aren’t considered strong contenders for the Stanley Cup. Giordano’s return might be a feel-good story, and maybe he’s even viewed as a potential trade asset at the deadline, but the return wouldn’t be high.
It’s more likely Giordano winds up going back to Toronto if the Jani Hakanpaa situation doesn’t pan out or to Edmonton, where the Oilers might be looking for depth after the losses of Cody Ceci, Philip Broberg, and Vincent Desharnais. If he joins the Oilers, it might sting a little for Flames fans, but some will be happy to see Giordano have a chance to win.
