Report: Giordano among Maple Leafs' targets ahead of deadline
Seattle Kraken captain Mark Giordano is on the Toronto Maple Leafs' list of targets ahead of Monday's trade deadline, according to TSN's Chris Johnston.
"We know that Mark Giordano is one of the targets that the Maple Leafs have on their list at this point in time," Johnston said on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."
He added: "The Seattle Kraken would like to get a first-round pick back in any trade for Mark Giordano; that's expressly what Kyle Dubas has told other teams he doesn't want to do. He's not going to trade his first-rounder, he's told teams, in a deal for a rental player."
The veteran defenseman carries a $6.75-million cap hit and is set for unrestricted free agency after the season. The Kraken selected him from the Calgary Flames in the expansion draft and quickly named him the first captain in franchise history.
Giordano, 38, has inevitably lost a step in his game as he's gotten older, but he can still bring value on the left side of the blue line. He has six goals and 17 assists in 55 games this season and has averaged 21:29 minutes of ice time per game.
If the Maple Leafs were to add Giordano, their blue line combinations could look something like this if and when Jake Muzzin returns to the lineup from LTIR:
| LD | RD |
|---|---|
| Jake Muzzin | Morgan Rielly |
| Mark Giordano | TJ Brodie |
| Rasmus Sandin | Ilya Lyubushkin |
The Montreal Canadiens landed a significant package for Ben Chiarot that included a solid prospect, plus first- and fourth-round picks. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche gave up a second-round pick and one of their top prospects to acquire Josh Manson. The Kraken will surely be looking for a similar package for Giordano.
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