In recent weeks, the Seattle Kraken made the decision that they would be trading Mark Giordano. He and Ron Francis, Kraken general manager, sat down and discussed the future and came to the conclusion that the team would trade its first captain, thinking of the future of the franchise above all else. Emily Kaplan of ESPN reports that though Giordano has a 10-team no-trade clause, he “has not even bothered giving it” to Francis and the Kraken front office, as he expects to go to a contender.
Kaplan lists the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and Carolina Hurricanes among those who have shown the most interest.
Giordano, 38, was a Norris Trophy winner in 2018-19, and still is producing at a high level for the Kraken. With 23 points in 50 games he is their highest-scoring defenseman, and with more than 21 minutes of ice time a night, he plays more than everyone except Adam Larsson. Any acquiring team wouldn’t likely be asking him to do as much, which could perhaps improve his performance even further for a short postseason run.
The Rangers have been linked to basically every player on the market this year as they try to parlay an incredible season by Igor Shesterkin into true contender status. With the relative youth of their blueline–Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller, Braden Schneider, Libor Hajek, Nils Lundkvist, and Zac Jones are all 24-and-under–Giordano would offer something that they don’t have in spades: experience.
In Toronto, the Maple Leafs already have Giordano’s old partner in T.J. Brodie, the player who helped him to that Norris season a few years ago. With Jake Muzzin’s future up in the air after suffering multiple concussions, a Giordano-Brodie pairing could actually be considered the top unit, freeing Morgan Rielly to play in more offensive situations.
For Florida, adding one more defenseman could put them over the top as they’re already one of the deepest teams in the league at every position. With Aaron Ekblad, MacKenzie Weegar, and Gustav Forsling already in place, Giordano would likely be able to feast on more manageable minutes and matchups. The same could be said about Carolina, though Kaplan notes Francis may be loath to help his old club.
In St. Louis, the loss of Scott Perunovich and the disappointing play of Marco Scandella has opened up a potential spot on the left side to add a defenseman. Head coach Craig Berube was almost even a teammate of Giordano’s decades ago, playing two final seasons in Calgary just a year before the undrafted defenseman joined the organization. With a style predicated on quick puck movement and physicality, the veteran Giordano could actually seem like a perfect fit for the Central Division club.
Does anyone remember on draft day when Seattle took him, basically everyone thought it was a draft-&-trade to the Rangers, even Giordano himself was like, “Well, we will see what happens,” when the local reporters asked him about his role with the team. But the trade never materialized, and here we are again.
If Trono is involved, would a Gio (1/2 salary) and Driedger for Mrazek, Sandin, Engvald, and a 1st
Yeah, but both goalies have no-trade clauses.
Both of those goalies only have modified no trades and it’s Engvall. Nevermind the offer is ridiculous. Sandin and a 1st. Right.
Cap concerns have more players going back, and Driedger is an upgrade to Pter, so there!
you are nuts. a young defenseman and a 1st for essentially Giordano who is an FA?
You are blind, or you can’t read. All of that is not for Gio.
But Dubas is not going for a goalie now. So, it is just a 1st for Gio (50% retained), but one might have to add a lesser pick like a 5th if there is a competition for his services.
not blind but mrazek and Dreidger are a wash.
so taking them out, your original offer than was Gio with 50% retained for Sandin, a 1st rounder and Engvall.
even factoring in engvall maybe getting a 6th round pick back, your offer was a joke and based on you seemingly backtracking now to a 1st and maybe a lower pick, you clearly realize the original offer was nuts
I’m sure Gio would love to go back home to Toronto. Great fit back with Brodie. Not sure how they fit his cap hit under the line, though.
50% retained and the leafs send a contract back (Holl for example). will cost a better prospect or pick but it’s doable
As for the Rangers, vet experience with Trouba, and as for the rest of the squad, Gio would be slotted on the third line. Not going to move Fox or Trouba, and Gio isn’t a good fit for either of those two players. I see the Rangers trading for him only if the ask is low, which I doubt.