NHL analyst Steve Silverman believes the reigning champions, the Florida Panthers, can address some roster needs by signing former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Giordano.
Although Giordano will turn 41 in October, he became a free agent on July 1 and intends to continue playing for at least another year. Silverman, in an article for Clutch Points, suggested that the Panthers should consider signing the veteran.
“One of the players (Florida Panthers GM Barry) Zito must consider is defenseman Mark Giordano,” Silverman wrote. “Giordano is a solid veteran defenseman who has played 18 years in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Seattle Kraken. At the age of 40, Giordano is no longer at his peak, but he understands the position and can still play a tough, physical game. Giordano has seen it all throughout his career and would be a solid addition for a strong team like the Panthers.
“There are other players Zito can consider before the start of training camp, but Giordano understands the nuances of winning hockey and would be a solid free agent acquisition.”
Giordano played in 46 games for the Leafs during the 2023-24 season, scoring 3 goals and providing 6 assists for a total of 9 points.
Panthers Won the Stanley Cup But Lost Key Players
The Panthers had an impressive 2023 season, defeating the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes but ultimately losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in the finals.
A year later, the Panthers won the Stanley Cup by beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7, overcoming the hurdle they faced the previous year.
However, the Panthers lost key players in free agency due to the NHL’s hard-cap constraints. General manager Bill Zito and coach Paul Maurice will have to manage without two of their best defensemen next year, including Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Montour signed with the Seattle Kraken, while Ekman-Larsson, who had a bounce-back season in Florida, joined the Maple Leafs after stints with the Arizona Coyotes and Vancouver Canucks.
As of mid-July, the Panthers face financial constraints, with slightly over $87 million committed to next season’s roster, leaving them with 22 of 23 players signed.
According to PuckPedia, the Panthers have around $766,000 left in cap space, which might be enough to sign Mark Giordano to a veteran minimum-salary deal during the remainder of the off-season.
Maple Leafs’ Mark Giordano Wants to Extend His Career
Giordano’s agent, Ritchie Winter, confirmed to Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star that Giordano plans to continue playing next season.
OEL ➡️ TOR
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 1, 2024
“Mark has made the decision that he’s playing for a few more years,” Winter said. “He feels very confident. He’s been talking to a lot of people who tell him: Don’t quit until they make you… He clearly wants to play.”
Giordano entered free agency on July 1 after completing a two-year, $1.6 million deal with Toronto signed in 2022.
The 40-year-old defenseman, who entered the NHL as an undrafted free agent, debuted with the Calgary Flames in the 2005-06 season and has appeared in 1,148 regular season games. He has played for the Flames, Kraken, and most recently the Leafs.
During his three-year stint in Toronto, he played 144 games, scoring 9 goals and providing 36 assists for a total of 45 points. Giordano is a one-time All-Star and won the 2020 Mark Messier Leadership Award.
