If you ever hear someone say anything negative about Mark Giordano that person is definitely not Brad Treliving.
The Calgary Flames general manager signed Giordano to a six-year, $40.5-million contract extension Tuesday and spoke about his team’s captain on Prime Time Sports.
“We see what he does on the ice in terms of the play … The other piece that people probably don’t see publicly is the leader [he is]. We’ve got a young group here and this guy is the soul of our team,” Treliving told Jeff Blair and Arash Madani on Sportsnet 590 The Fan.
Treliving explained that he and Flames management tell young players to watch what Giordano does on and off the ice so they can be better NHLers.
“He’s as fit as any player in the league,” Treliving said. “The way he lives his life. The way he conducts himself. He’s a comforting ear for young players. He’s the first guy to reach out to people when they join our team. He’s a captain and leader in the truest sense.”
Summer acquisition Dougie Hamilton is a young player Treliving thinks will benefit from being around Giordano.
“Shortly after we made the deal [to acquire Hamilton from the Boston Bruins], I was in Florida [for the NHL Draft] and I talked to Dougie on the phone and it was a short time into the conversation that Dougie [said he was] excited to come to Calgary and one of the [reasons] was to be able to watch and play with and learn from a Mark Giordano.
“That’s that piece that’s so hard to quantify, but he’s been a great mentor for the young players on our team and I think that will hold true for Dougie Hamilton.”
