Flames working at getting Mark Giordano back in Calgary

The Seattle Kraken is reportedly expected to shop pending free-agent defenseman Mark Giordano by the March 21 trade deadline, and the captain is likely to get the attention of many contenders on the market. However, the Calgary Flames would love to have him back as they lost the veteran blue liner in last summer’s expansion draft.

Recently, Sportsnet’s Eric Francis suggested the Flames need an experienced puck-moving defenseman like Giordano back on their roster, while TSN’s Salim Valji felt the same way, pointing out the leader’s skill set and ties to Calgary make him “an ideal fit.”

We just aren’t sure the Flames can pull it off… It all comes down to Calgary’s salary cap space as Francis was quick to note that fitting Giordano’s $6.75-million cap hit within the Flames’ financial structure will be a challenge. Giordano does hold a 19-team trade list, however, we can almost certainly assume Calgary would be among his preferred trade destinations.

There is however also the question of the return the Flames would be forced to give up to land their former captain. Francis reminded fans their asking price from the Flames to avoid taking the blue liner in the expansion draft, which was a first-round pick and either a second or third-rounder. Kraken general manager Ron Francis could maintain that same asking price.

Not sure Flames GM Brad Treliving will pay that much…

There is also the addition of recent reports stating that Giordano enjoys Seattle and that the team and he could discuss contract extension before the trade deadline.

After all, he was named the first captain of the new franchise…