A reunion with Mark Giordano is apparently still something the Maple Leafs are interested in.
However, when he entered the game, he gave them a respected, experienced voice in the locker room, some excellent defensive play from the bottom two, and a pleasantly surprising ability to come off the bench and play some crucial minutes following an injury.
If that wasn’t enough to win over the fans, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Leafs for a budget charge of $800,000, which represents a slight salary decrease of nearly $6 million Giordano was forced to do far more than he should have been required to do while still maintaining a consistent presence for the Leafs, particularly in the first year of his big contract. His legs caught up to him quite fast, as things usually do with older defensemen, and by the time the 2023–24 season came to a conclusion, it was evident.
The 18-year veteran, who was not selected in the draft, is now 41 years old and has frequently stated that he would like to play for another season, either with the Maple Leafs or another team. Additionally, the teams that have shown a shared interest in a return include the Leafs, according to his agent Ritch Winter (via Sportsnet senior columnist Eric Francis).
It’s reasonable to assume that if the Leafs bring Giordano back, it will be on a one-year contract and that he won’t be playing regularly given the team currently has seven defensemen vying for NHL jobs, eight if you include the enigmatic yet unsigned Jani Hakanpaa on that list.
He didn’t suit up for them in the playoffs and only appeared in 46 games last season, scoring nine points. Nevertheless, the statistics are on his side, and having a man with a voice like Giordano in your locker room is always a plus.
Despite Conroy’s opinion that he doesn’t fit there, it would feel fitting to have him return for one last season with the Calgary Flames if the Leafs are unable to acquire him back. Fans of the Flames would undoubtedly be moved by the reunion, even though it is unlikely that the team will be competitive this season.
In the event that injuries arise, the Leafs might not be too eager to use one of their contract slots on him, keeping players like Marshall Rifai and Topi Niemela from getting a taste of NHL action. That being said, though, having a player like Giordano on the team, even in the most limited of roles, is something no one should be wasting time complaining about.
Craig Berube takes over a quality Toronto Maple Leafs team that has consistently underperformed in the postseason. Berube was regarded as the best head coach available on the open market this summer. Berube is one spot behind Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella in NHL.com’s latest ranking of the 12th-best coaches in the league.
It’s an interesting distinction, particularly in the context of a profession where perceptions are frequently skewed. Berube strengthened his resume in 2019 by leading the St. Louis Blues to their first-ever Stanley Cup triumph. He is known for employing a three-zone system that emphasizes defensive accountability.
During his sixth season with the Blues, he was sacked by the team. On May 17, he was brought in by the Maple Leafs to replace Sheldon Keefe, who was soon after hired by the New Jersey Devils. Berube spent two seasons as the Philadelphia Flyers’ coach before coming to the Blues. Combined, he had a record of 281-190-72 during his stints with the Flyers and Blues.