The NHL’s trade deadline day is today, March 21, at 3 p.m. EST. And, with the Toronto Maple Leafs sitting in a playoff spot, they’ve already made a big move to prepare themselves for this season’s playoffs, which begin in April.
On March 20, the Leafs acquired defenseman Mark Giordano from the NHL’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken, alongside forward Colin Blackwell. Giordano was the Kraken’s captain until the trade, and the Leafs sent back 2022 draft picks in return. The 38-year old brings tons of hockey experience to the Maple Leafs roster. Here are ten things to know about the newest Toronto Maple Leaf:
1. He is a Toronto native. Born and raised in Toronto, Giordano’s dad Paul is a real estate agent and his mother, Anna, is a hairdresser. He played minor hockey in North York and Richmond Hill, and attended Chaminade College School.
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2. He has been an NHL captain more than once. Before his half-season stint with the Seattle Kraken, Mark Giordano was a long-serving captain for the Calgary Flames. He was the 19th captain in Flames’ history, named captain in September 2013 after Jarome Iginla left Calgary the season before.
3. Mark Giordano went undrafted in the NHL. He had tons of offensive success in his junior years–even leading his OHL team’s defense, the Owen Sound Attack, in points for two years. But, he was not selected in the NHL entry draft, as many believed he needed more experience in the Ontario Hockey League.
4. Giordano was enrolled at York University for a time. After completing his junior hockey career, Giordano enrolled in York University’s business program. But, he received a late invitation to the Calgary Flames‘ summer camp instead, and chose to follow his passion in hockey.
5. Charity work is important to him. Mark Giordano and his wife, Lauren, are spokespeople for Habitat for Humanity, and launched a program in 2011 called 5-for-5 that aimed to build five homes across the globe for the charity. As a member of the Flames, he also launched Team Giordano Project, which saw him donate funding to three schools in Calgary for new gym equipment and computers. He also visited the schools and offered mentorship to the students. ESPN awarded him the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for his efforts at the end of the 2016-17 season.
6. Mark Giordano has 1,000 games of NHL experience. Last week, Giordano was honoured by the Seattle Kraken and the league for reaching the 1,000 game milestone in the NHL. It’s a huge achievement, and a video tribute and a Rolex watch were involved in the celebration.
7. He plays a defensive style of hockey. The Leafs have Morgan Reilly to cover the bases as the team’s offensive defenseman, but Giordano is the kind of player who will block shots, throw hits and play an aggressively defensive game to defend his own goalie. It’s a valuable style of play for the Leafs, who were lacking in that department and will rely on it in the playoffs.
8. TJ Brodie and Mark Giordano have already played together. When Giordano suits up for the Leafs, he’ll likely be paired on the blue line with TJ Brodie. The two were defensive partners during their stints with the Calgary Flames, and have tons of experience playing together.
9. He’s won awards for his play. In 2019, at the age of 35, Giordano was given the prestigious James Norris Memorial Trophy, which honours the NHL’s best defenseman. That year, he became the fifth defenseman in NHL history to record 60 points at the age of 35 or over. Previous Norris Trophy winners include hockey legends Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey, as well as GTA natives Drew Doughty and P.K. Subban.
10. Mark Giordano grew up a Leafs fan. Of course, a North York native grew up cheering for his home team, but he told the Toronto Sun he remembers his ten year-old self being very upset in 1993, when the Maple Leafs lost in the conference final. He hopes he can lead the Leafs to playoff glory. “Now that I’m able to get back to Toronto, it’s a great opportunity to be a part of something special,” he told the Toronto Sun on a Zoom call.