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ctober 14, 2006.The Maple Leafs really do have the weirdest stats and records.Giordano’s long-time defensive partner with the Calgary Flames, T.J. Brodie, who is now also a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, participated in the 2002 Leafs Skills Competition. As an 11-year-old, he nailed all four corner targets. Who would have thought that 18 years later, he would be joining that very same team?Giordano was eventually named the 19th captain in Flames history, after the legendary Jarome Iginla.In the 2018–19 season, Mark became only one of 5 defensemen in NHL history to ever record 60 points at the age of 35 or over. He doesn’t seem to be slowing down.During the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, the Calgary Flames opted not to protect their Captain, in an effort to offload the final year of his 6-year, $40,5M contract that saw an Annual Average Salary (AAV) of$ 6,75M against the cap. He was immediately named the 1st Captain of the Seatle Kraken.Giordano was an absolute bright spot for the new team. Even at his age, he was contributing at a high level which did not go unnoticed. He was named to the 2022 NHL All-Star Game roster as voted by fans.How about another weird Maple Leafs stat: On March 5, 2022, Mark Giordano played his 1,000th NHL game. What’s so weird about that? This was the exact same day that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Wayne Simmonds played his 1,000th game.<h2 id="74b7">The Toronto Maple Leafs</h2>Then, one day before the trade deadline, on March 20, 2022, the Toronto Maple Leafs make an amazing trade. Giordano comes back to his hometown of Toronto, along with Colin Blackwell. The Toronto Maple Leafs send the Kraken a second-round pick in 2022 and 2023, as well as a third-round pick in 2024 in exchange. Seattle would also retain 50% of Giordano’s contract.The Toronto Maple Leafs’ defensive core received a massive upgrade that day. He seemed to be the perfect defensive partner for the rookie, Timothy Liljegren. The experience he brings to this club and the mentorship he pro

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vides are a massive boon to this club and to the rookie.While the Toronto Maple Leafs were inches away from making it to the second round of the playoffs and beating the Tampa Bay Lightning, it was not meant to be. (WILL IT EVER!?!?!?)<h2 id="f8a6">The Contract</h2>While the legendary player was coming off a $6,75M a year contract, the Toronto Maple Leafs were only able to offer him between$ 1M-1.2M, so it is said. The defensemen could easily get over $3M on the open market but the Leafs have a lot of players to resign.But here’s the crazy part\dots he refused and countered with a two-year extension carrying an$ 800,000 AAV. He took less money to stay with the Toronto Maple Leafs, taking a page right out of Jason Spezza’s book.He wants this team to be able to acquire better players. He loves this team. He knows they can win. He wants to help in every way he can.The Stanley Cup trophy has eluded him his entire career. And at 39 years old, he has very few chances left to acquire it. Not only did he choose the Toronto Maple Leafs as the horse he wants to back in this race, but he also took less money to do so.MARK GIORDANO IS A TORONTO MAPLE LEAF!!I will admit, this is a great start to the off-season… but it’s just the start.Coming up next:<h1 id="180b">The Off-Season BLUES — Jason Spezza</h1><h2 id="3008">Ch-ch-ch-changes!</h2>If you enjoy reading my flights of fancy, or as I like to call them, <a href="https://flightsofphoenix.ca/">Flights of Phoenix</a>, and want to <a href="https://phoenixmosher.medium.com/membership">support me</a> as the entertaining writer that I am, please consider <a href="https://phoenixmosher.medium.com/membership">signing up to become a Medium member</a>. It’s only $5 a month, giving you access to unlimited stories on Medium (and all of mine). And if you <a href="https://phoenixmosher.medium.com/membership">sign up using my link</a>, I’ll even earn a small commission. Woohoo!Love you all !!</article></body>

The Off-Season BLUES — Mark Giordano

The first off-season signing of 2022

The mourning period has ended. The off-season has begun. It’s time for the Maple Leafs to get to work for next year.

It was certainly a hard pill to swallow to see the Tampa Bay Lightning destroy the Florida Panthers in a 4-game sweep, only allowing 3 goals against them. The Leafs took the Lightning to the brink of elimination. A 1 goal difference mired in controversy… that could have been us!

But we’re passed all that. The Leafs are preparing for next year’s run. The playoffs are still going but Toronto has already made a massive signing to the club… Mark Giordano!

Mark Giordano

Mark Giordano has become a bit of a living legend in hockey. The 39-year old…

Hard stop!

39 years old…

One of the oldest guys in the NHL…

That awkward moment when you realize the instant Zdeno Chara and Joe Thornton retire, you are officially older than every NHL player.

*Insert existential crisis here*

Anyway, back to the article.

Mark Giordano has had an impressive career to date, with a bit of an unusual start. He was unselected at the NHL Entry Draft, despite his success in juniors and being named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team.

Giordano enrolled at York University where he planned to study at its school of business after graduating from junior hockey. But plans often do not come to fruition as he received a late invitation from the Calgary Flames to attend their summer camp. And boy did he impress, though his NHL debut would not come until January 30, 2006, when he was recalled from the AHL.

And of course, in typical Maple Leafs fashion, Mark Giordano scored his first two NHL goals against the Toronto Maple Leafs, on October 14, 2006.

The Maple Leafs really do have the weirdest stats and records.

Giordano’s long-time defensive partner with the Calgary Flames, T.J. Brodie, who is now also a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, participated in the 2002 Leafs Skills Competition. As an 11-year-old, he nailed all four corner targets. Who would have thought that 18 years later, he would be joining that very same team?

Giordano was eventually named the 19th captain in Flames history, after the legendary Jarome Iginla.

In the 2018–19 season, Mark became only one of 5 defensemen in NHL history to ever record 60 points at the age of 35 or over. He doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

During the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, the Calgary Flames opted not to protect their Captain, in an effort to offload the final year of his 6-year, $40,5M contract that saw an Annual Average Salary (AAV) of $6,75M against the cap. He was immediately named the 1st Captain of the Seatle Kraken.

Giordano was an absolute bright spot for the new team. Even at his age, he was contributing at a high level which did not go unnoticed. He was named to the 2022 NHL All-Star Game roster as voted by fans.

How about another weird Maple Leafs stat: On March 5, 2022, Mark Giordano played his 1,000th NHL game. What’s so weird about that? This was the exact same day that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Wayne Simmonds played his 1,000th game.

The Toronto Maple Leafs

Then, one day before the trade deadline, on March 20, 2022, the Toronto Maple Leafs make an amazing trade. Giordano comes back to his hometown of Toronto, along with Colin Blackwell. The Toronto Maple Leafs send the Kraken a second-round pick in 2022 and 2023, as well as a third-round pick in 2024 in exchange. Seattle would also retain 50% of Giordano’s contract.

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ defensive core received a massive upgrade that day. He seemed to be the perfect defensive partner for the rookie, Timothy Liljegren. The experience he brings to this club and the mentorship he provides are a massive boon to this club and to the rookie.

While the Toronto Maple Leafs were inches away from making it to the second round of the playoffs and beating the Tampa Bay Lightning, it was not meant to be. (WILL IT EVER!?!?!?)

The Contract

While the legendary player was coming off a $6,75M a year contract, the Toronto Maple Leafs were only able to offer him between $1M-1.2M, so it is said. The defensemen could easily get over $3M on the open market but the Leafs have a lot of players to resign.

But here’s the crazy part… he refused and countered with a two-year extension carrying an $800,000 AAV. He took less money to stay with the Toronto Maple Leafs, taking a page right out of Jason Spezza’s book.

He wants this team to be able to acquire better players. He loves this team. He knows they can win. He wants to help in every way he can.

The Stanley Cup trophy has eluded him his entire career. And at 39 years old, he has very few chances left to acquire it. Not only did he choose the Toronto Maple Leafs as the horse he wants to back in this race, but he also took less money to do so.

MARK GIORDANO IS A TORONTO MAPLE LEAF!!

I will admit, this is a great start to the off-season… but it’s just the start.

Coming up next:

The Off-Season BLUES — Jason Spezza

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

If you enjoy reading my flights of fancy, or as I like to call them, Flights of Phoenix, and want to support me as the entertaining writer that I am, please consider signing up to become a Medium member. It’s only $5 a month, giving you access to unlimited stories on Medium (and all of mine). And if you sign up using my link, I’ll even earn a small commission. Woohoo!

Love you all !!