Mark Giordano isn’t ready to quit just yet.
Ritch Winter, the 40-year-old defenceman’s agent, appeared on the Eric Francis Hour of Flames Talk on Friday and stated that he has had contact with a number of teams, but he and Giordano are still looking for the right match.
Winter stated that he has spoken with the Edmonton Oilers, as well as two of Giordano’s former teams, the Calgary Flames and the Toronto Maple Leafs, about the defenseman’s availability.
Winter stated that Giordano’s first priority when it comes to his next team is to win the Stanley Cup.
“He wants to win. “Even Gio doesn’t think he has 10 years left, so you want to win,” Winter explained.
To accomplish this, Winter stated that they are either hoping to join a rebuilding team, such as the Flames, and then be traded at the deadline, or to join an established contender, such as the Maple Leafs or Oilers.
However, Winter stated that Flames GM Craig Conroy was not very interested in reconciling with Giordano.
“It wasn’t something we really pushed for, and it didn’t appear that Conroy was particularly interested in it,” Winter said of Giordano returning to Calgary. “I believe he missed the mark; I would tell him that. What better athlete do you know than Gio to teach a group of young hockey players what it takes to prepare for and become an excellent NHL player?”
Giordano began his career with the Flames in 2005 and led the team for eight seasons, 2013-2021. In 2018-19, he won the Norris Trophy, followed by the Mark Messier Leadership Award the next season.
If the soon-to-be 41-year-old finds a team this season, it will be Giordano’s 19th in the NHL. He spent the past two and a half seasons with his hometown Maple Leafs.
Giordano struggled with injuries last season, appearing in just 46 regular-season games and scoring three goals and six assists. He also saw no action in the playoffs this spring, as Toronto was eliminated in seven games by the Boston Bruins.
