Calgary Flames: Mark Giordano deserves Norris Torphy consideration
Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano was running away with the Norris Trophy in the 2014-15 season before an injury cut his season short. Will his wait end in the 2018-19 season?
This season has seen some pretty incredible performances from defensemen. There are so many horses in the Norris Trophy race, the track is getting a bit crowded because there’s no overwhelming favorite. Especially not with Erik Karlsson off to a slow (by his standards) start with the San Jose Sharks and Drew Doughty‘s LA Kings struggling. Could this be the year Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano finally wins the Norris Trophy?
Giordano has been the Norris Trophy favorite before. Back in the 2014-15 season, entering Feb. 25, he was tied for the lead among all NHL defensemen in points with 47 points in 60 games. Giordano was helping a Flames team nobody expected to make the postseason find a way to overachieve. And, eventually, they did make the postseason.
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However, the Flames captain got injured that evening against the New Jersey Devils and didn’t play in another game all season. Giordano finished sixth in the Norris Trophy voting. To this day, that’s the highest he’s ever finished.
Justice could finally be served this season, as Giordano is indisputably among the top contenders. He has 35 points, which is tied with John Carlson for the third-most points among defensemen. Only Thomas Chabot and Morgan Rielly, both with 36 points, are ahead of him. Giordano has played fewer games than both as well.
At five-on-five, he has been his traditionally dominant self. Giordano ranks 16th in points per hour, placing him among the NHL’s top defensemen. His underlying numbers are equally impressive.
However, where Giordano has truly shined is the power play. Last season, the Flames were awful with an extra man on the ice. Their turnaround has been remarkable, as their 22.6 percent conversion percentage ranks 10th in the NHL. Giordano has been a huge part of that with 12 power play points. His 6.17 power play points per hour rank fourth among defensemen with at least 100 minutes.
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Giordano has been a huge part of the Flames turnaround this season. They’ve gone from a mediocre team with great underlying numbers to a borderline elite team with elite underlying numbers. Giordano has been a significant reason for this and he could be rewarded for his efforts with his Norris Trophy. Albeit four years too late.