'Toronto's Nonetheless Not Positive What's Occurring With (Jani) Hakanpaa And Gio's Been Very Affected person': Mark Giordano's Agent Updates the Newest on Maple Leafs' Curiosity in Veteran Defenseman

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September 8, 2024

With coaching camps set to open up in simply a few weeks, there may be some last-minute scrambling to get gamers left unsigned new contracts or skilled tryouts with NHL golf equipment.

That is additionally the case for veteran defenseman Mark Giordano who stays an unrestricted free agent.

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Giordano’s agent, Wealthy Winter, was a visitor on ‘Flames Talk’ with Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg and Eric Francis and offered an replace on the place issues stand with the previous Norris Trophy winner.

“We have talked to Edmonton (Oilers) and Toronto (Maple Leafs) and Toronto’s nonetheless unsure what’s taking place with Jani Hakanpaa And Gio’s been very affected person,” Winter mentioned. “He acknowledges that the most effective spot is perhaps two weeks into camp as a result of we’re at the moment of 12 months the place all the youngsters there, they give the impression of being nice. ‘You understand, I am fairly enthusiastic about seeing what, you already know, so-and-so can do’. After which they discover out, ‘wow, we missed the mark on that’. So I believe, you already know, Gio’s holding agency till he finds a possibility that provides him a excessive chance of being in that Stanley Cup Closing. And clearly, Edmonton’s a great place.”

Giordano spent the final two-plus seasons with the Maple Leafs, however a number of accidents and roster choices restricted the participant to 46 video games in 2023-24. He was additionally not chosen to decorate in the course of the Leafs’ first-round collection loss towards the Boston Bruins.

The Maple Leafs reportedly agreed to phrases with Hakanpaa in July however issues over the participant’s knee harm from final season have since surfaced. There was optimism just lately from TSN’s Chris Johnston who feels we’d see Hakanpaa at the very least present up at Leafs coaching camp.

Winter pushed the Oilers as a doable vacation spot for Giordano, who desires to come back again for an opportunity to win a Stanley Cup, a trophy that has eluded him all through his 18-year NHL profession.

Giordano has been figuring out with the identical folks he labored with when he received Norris because the NHL’s greatest defenseman again in 2019.

One other risk Winter identified was enjoying for a crew that does not have a lot of an opportunity at making the playoffs earlier than being moved on the commerce deadline, presumably linking the veteran to return to the Flames the place all of it started. However apparently Calgary is not shopping for it.

“It was one thing that we actually pushed onerous and it did not appear that (Flames GM) Craig Conroy had a lot curiosity in it. I believe he missed the mark. I’d inform him that if he was on the cellphone with us. And I believe it was an actual alternative to do one thing distinctive that I believe may assist. What higher participant have you learnt than Geo to be an instance to a bunch of younger children, about what it takes to organize and be an elite NHL participant.”

Winter can be satisfied that Giordano can be working in an NHL entrance workplace past his enjoying days, at any time when which may be. If Giordano does signal someplace, he’ll stay the oldest participant within the NHL.