After getting injured in the second period of Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks, there was immediate concern that Mark Giordano’s injury might be serious. And, if so, that the Calgary Flames might need to shift their thinking in terms of how the team would approach the NHL Trade Deadline.
Giordano fell awkwardly while trying to get a shot on goal. Slow to get up, he favored his right leg as he went to the bench. He didn’t practice with the team and underwent an MRI to see whether or not surgery would be needed. Reports on Thursday morning note that surgery will not be required but the news isn’t completely wonderful.
As of now, Giordano is being reported as officially out “week to week”. While that doesn’t sound drastic, considering the NHL Trade Deadline is only 18 days away, if Giordano doesn’t make progress in the next two weeks, the Flames have a serious dilemma on their hands.
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Did Flames Really Dodge a Bullet Here?
On the surface, Giordano’s injury news is good. No surgery required always is good news. That said, even a week-to-week injury has the potential to change things for the Flames.
The Calgary Flames are widely known to be seeking a top-six winger. Had Giordano not gotten hurt, someone like Tyler Toffoli might have been a player GM Brad Treliving would have gone after, and sooner than later. But, with uncertainty surrounding Giordano, Calgary might have to wait.
This isn’t to suggest the Flames are worried they won’t get Giordano back in time for the playoffs, but with him out, how much are the Flames’ chances of making it into the postseason affected? Does a forward help more than replacing their Norris Trophy winning defenseman does? After all, to say the Pacific Division race is tight would be an understatement.
For the Flames to be effective in the playoffs, they first need to get there. And, while they determine what direction to take, other teams conduct trade business as usual.
What happens if the Flames wait to see how Giordano is doing before making their move? In the case of a player like Toffoli, that means opening up the option for another franchise like the Boston Bruins or Philadelphia Flyers to come in and make an offer. Then what? What if Toffoli was your guy and the window closed?
Needless to say, Calgary may have a decision on their hands even if Giordano is out only a couple of weeks. Every game over the next 7-14 days becomes critical for the Flames and as they start to move up or down the standings, the pressure to make the right call for Treliving mounts.
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