A lot of virtual ink has been spilled over this seemingly minor, depth defenseman the last few seasons.
It's not only due to the contract dispute/flight to Russia thing though. Giordano is a genuinely interesting player, beyond the circumstances that have surrounded him the last couple seasons.
Matt sums up the notables in that last link above:
- Signed as an undrafted 20-year-old in the summer of 2004.You can now append to that list the following:
- Solid first pro year with the Lowell Lock Monsters (shared AHL affiliate with Carolina), 6-10-16 in 66GP.
- Stupendous second pro year (2005-06) with the Omaha Knights: 16-42-58 in 73GP to lead the team -- not defensemen, the whole team -- in scoring. Played 7 games with the Flames as an injury fill-in (1 assist), unfortunately timed so that he missed the AHL All-Star game.
- Made the big club out of training camp in 2006 (nominally as the #7 Dman). All accounts were that it was entirely deserved, and that he was impressive (as opposed to, say, being the best of a mediocre lot and winning that #7 spot by default).
- Started the season in the lineup (The Warrener was hurt) playing 8-9 minutes a night. In Game 5 in front of friends and family in T.O., he scored 2 EV goals. Following that game, Warrener got back in the lineup and Giordano dressed twice in the next 5-1/2 weeks.
- For most of Nov/Dec/Jan, he dressed only when someone else was hurt. Starting in about February, he was occasionally inserted into the lineup instead of Andrea Susan on merit. At the deadline, the Flames added another guy to the mix by acquiring David Hale from the Devils.
- Playoffs: with Regehr injured, the top 5 were Stuart, Phaneuf, Hamrlik, Warrener, and Zyuzin, with Giordano and Hale as the options for the #6. Hale started games 1 & 2, and was beyond atrocious in G2, most notably in the form of spending the last 4 minutes of the game (when the Flames were down by 2) in the penalty box for stupid minors.
- Giordano got the call for G3, and justified his presence rather promptly. Using his trademark (and uncommon skill) wrist-shot-that-finds-the-net-through-traffic, he scored the tying goal in the 3rd period; Iginla scored the winner shortly thereafter and the Flames were back in the series. Giordano was in the lineup for the remainder of the series.
- Played in the RSL as a 24 year old with Dynamo Moscow. Led the team's defenders in scoring the during the play-offs with 1 goal and 6 points in 9 games.
- Played for Canada's Spengler Cup winning team in 2007.
- Was chosen for Canada's World Championship club in 2008.
With the news that Gio has been paired with Dion Phaneuf throughout training camp, I couldn't help but think of Brian Rafalski as a potential comparison for the Flames prodigal son.
Consider that:
- Rafalski was a big time scorer in College hockey, managing 45 points in 43 games during his final year.
- Considered undersized, Rafalski was never drafted.
- He played several years overseas in the Swedish and Finnish Elite Leaugues. Eventually won acclaim and was signed as a 26 year old by the Devils.
- Scored 32 points in his rookie season.
- Led NJ's blueline in scoring the next season...
Now, obviously this is a very optimistic comparison given the kind of career Rafalski has been able to carve out for himself. Still some of the parallels are difficult to ignore: the obvious offensive proclivities, the lack of "ideal" NHL size, the big amateur numbers, the curious indifference of NHL scouts, the progression in *other* pro leagues besides the NHL.
By no means does this guarantee Giordano any kind of future success, but I find it interesting to have such an obvious modern comparable - meaning it's at least possible for a guy like Giordano to become an impact player at the NHL level.
Kyle adds his thoughts on Mr. Bean here.
