It’s pretty clear Mark Giordano isn’t planning to go to the world championship.
Nor does it appear Canada can count on the services of T. J. Brodie, which makes for an interesting debate as people wonder if such decisions would cost either – or both – a shot at the World Cup squad.
The Calgary Flames captain insists his decision hasn’t been finalized, but it’s evident he’d rather team up with his son next month at home than, say, P.K. Subban in Russia.
“Yeah, it’s a tough decision but the first thing that comes to mind is your family,” said the 32-year-old defenceman.
“You want to spend time and enjoy any opportunity you get because during the season it’s pretty rigorous – you’re home but you’re not home. I really enjoy spending time at home with my little guy right now. He’s almost three and you don’t get those early years back. I’ll make my decision based on that first and foremost.”
Giordano knows it’s not quite that simple as this is a unique summer of international intrigue.
Sure, few in North America care about, or pay attention to, the world championship, as the focus in Canada is on the Stanley Cup playoffs.
However, there’s an inherent pressure being placed on players like Giordano, Subban and Brodie by Hockey Canada to represent your country in May so you have a shot at playing for Canada in September at the World Cup.
That’s the big carrot, and by skipping the first invite to represent Canada, the fear has to be you’re forgoing a chance at the bigger prize next fall.
Few think it’s a coincidence the 13 skaters Canada already named to the eight-team World Cup showdown are all on NHL playoff teams. It leaves those out of the playoffs faced with the pressure of playing and showcasing themselves at the worlds or risk being overlooked for the big tourney.
In Giordano’s case it shouldn’t.
“There’s always that possibility – you never know what they’re thinking,” said Giordano, whose 20 goals make him the NHL’s third-leading scorer amongst defencemen.
“This year it’s a little different because of the World Cup. I know I wasn’t named to the original roster but there’s still a possibility I think.”
Make no mistake, Giordano would accept a World Cup invitation in a heartbeat as it’s being played at a time when players are ramping up for their seasons and it’s being played in his hometown of Toronto.
Are his chances of making the team hurt by not demonstrating his worth during a playoff run and skipping the worlds? After all, many of the players he’s competing against will be playing at either the playoffs or at the worlds.
As a left-handed shot and one of the better leaders in the game, Giordano is – and should be – a frontrunner for a Canadian World Cup spot.
Brodie, who can also play the left side where Canada is weaker, is a longshot, especially without demonstrating on an international stage what many in Calgary already know: he’s a star.
Sources say he’s leaning towards declining the opportunity.
Yet another pressure point in the equation is the fact Flames GM Brad Treliving is the co-GM of Canada’s world championship squad and there would be a certain level of embarrassment if he can’t get one, two (or three including Dougie Hamilton) of his premier blue-liners to join him overseas.
“Obviously with my involvement I told them, ‘No. 1, my involvement doesn’t supersede my relationship with them,’” said Treliving, who has had several chats with Giordano, making it clear he’s wanted in Moscow/Saint Petersburg.
“We’ll sit down and talk with them and ultimately he’ll make that decision. And I’ll support it 100 per cent either way. We can talk as good friends and I’ll give him my thoughts, but ultimately it’s always good for hockey players to play hockey.
“But, it’s not always that simple.”
In a perfect world for Treliving, Giordano, Brodie and Hamilton would be all be playing this spring for the Flames. Since that plan fell apart months ago, Plan B is being discussed.
Giordano, for one, isn’t worried about damaging his relationship with Treliving should he turn down his standing offer.
“I think Brad is really good about things and is open to discussing different scenarios with us players,” said Giordano, whose primary focus as captain is to ensure he and his Flames are ready to start better next season.
“I’m not getting any younger and you have to start thinking of self-preservation I guess.”
One thing that is not up for dispute is that Giordano would anchor the Canadian defence at the worlds and is already one of the players in the mix to round out the World Cup roster. Shea Weber, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Drew Doughty and Duncan Keith current hold World Cup defence spots. Others in the running to crack the final roster would be Kris Letang, Brent Burns, Jake Muzzin, Alex Pietrangelo, Tyson Barrie, Brent Seabrook, Subban, Giordano and Brodie.
“In Mark’s case over the last couple years he’s put himself now on that stage as one of the game’s elite players,” said Treliving.
“As far as his decision goes, there are plusses and minuses for everything.”
Treliving would also likely love to have Sean Monahan at the worlds, but the irony is that, unless he can come to terms with the centre on a new deal before the tourney starts in early May, Monahan’s agent would likely insist he isn’t put at risk of injury.
Same goes for Johnny Gaudreau on the U.S. roster.
Both have already been named to World Cup rosters and could buy insurance to play in the worlds.
Eric Francis is a Calgary Sun columnist and NHL analyst on Sportsnet.
