Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano – aka everyone at FlamesNation’s father (yes we’re all related) – has won the Norris Trophy at the annual National Hockey League awards event in Las Vegas. This is awarded annually to the league’s top defender who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.
Giordano, 35, had the best offensive season of his career. He beat his career-high in points just 57 games into the season by reaching 57 points, becoming just the eighth player in the last 40 years to reach their career-high at 35 years of age or older. He also became just the fourth defender in NHL history to reach the 60-point mark at the age of 35 or older. By the end of the season, he reached 74 points, second among defenders.
Hell yeah pt. 2 pic.twitter.com/LBShQs7rO9
— FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) June 20, 2019
Giordano finished fourth among all defenders (min. 500 TOI) in CF% (57.34%) while finishing fifth on the team in scoring. As Ryan Pike mentioned, here’s how he did in previous years in voting for the Norris since being given the captaincy:
- 2013-14 (30): 14 goals, 47 points, +12, 10th in voting
- 2014-15 (31): 11 goals, 48 points, +13, 6th in voting (missed last quarter of season with injury)
- 2015-16 (32): 21 goals, 56 points, -5, 13th in voting
- 2016-17 (33): 12 goals, 39 points, +22, 8th in voting
- 2017-18 (34): 13 goals, 38 points, even, 16th in voting
Here’s how Gio did in comparison to the other two finalists (min. 500 TOI among defenders):
| Defender | 5v5 CF% | 5v5 OZS% |
| Mark Giordano | 57.34 (4th) | 48.73 |
| Victor Hedman | 52.46 (48th) | 55.27 |
| Brent Burns | 57.11 (6th) | 62.92 |
He may have never been drafted, but Mark Giordano has now become the first Flame to ever win the Norris Trophy and the first undrafted player to win it since the modern draft began.
Yes! I will go straight to the pub after work today and raise a pint or two to Gio (in about 5 hours) for the big fella and first Flame to win it. So very well deserved!
Seven pints in. Told a few Random’s at the pub tonight the Gio story. The Aussies here loved it, they reckon he sounds like a great bloke. Couldn’t agree more!
Congrats Gio! Well done!!
Yes well deserved
Long time reader of the blog but made an account just now to say “YESSSSS!”
Well deserved.
Gio is the king. Long live Gio.
Super happy for Gio; well deserved!!!!!!!!
Also; imagine how much he would fetch in a trade now…!
WW
No really; how high of a draft pick could we get for him in this year’s draft?
I’m assuming top 2 picks are out of reach.
But after that…?
WW
He deserves the Top Pick plus 2 second rounders and a 2nd pairing Dman!
It’s not blasphemy to discuss a trade scenario. I actually hope he goes at the TDL and hoists the Cup. It’s his choice and deservedly so. 1st+2nd+blue chip forward or D
Hmmm
If we trade Gio, who makes up our top pair?
He fast, he speedy, he’s your Norris Trophy winner.
https://thewincolumn.ca/2019/06/19/yet-another-reason-mark-giordano-deserves-the-norris/
Fast? Speedy? You sure you’re talking about Mark Giordano? The guy that plays for the Flames?
Yes the best defenceman in the league. Agreed upon by all the unbiased opinions as well since he got like 97 percent of the first place votes
So if hes the best defenceman in the league, what does that say about Colorado’s defence, who took Gio and the Flames to school on how to play hockey. Those guys must be uber elite.
Go back to coilernation RAF….your in shock cuz Mcjesus didn’t win the Lindsay
? What does Colorado’s entire defence have to do with Gio? He is better then any defenceman they have…. So clueless
🥴Ask the Avs if they think he’s fast and speedy
Bedtime
How did Conner and the Oil do tonight?
W00t! Great job Gio! #GFG!
You a class act Gio! The best of the best 🔥
I like how there’s a whole bunch of trashes to all these posts. Classy guys… can’t just be happy for our captain. 🤣
That’s just Raffy. He doesn’t know hockey
Raffy is the biggest tool in the toolbox…
Power tool
Oilcanboyd, I don’t think Raff has a toolbox. He’s more of a juice box kind of guy.
In Gio we trust!
Congrats Gio! You had an amazing season. This is the 1st Norris trophy winner in the Flames franchise history!
Big whoop. Who cares. If he actually showed up for even one playoff game, then maybe I’d be impressed.
Why even bother with this comment. Just contain your unhappiness for a moment while some of us enjoy the fact that the undrafted captain of our favorite hockey team just won the damned Norris. Total wet blanket disgrace of a “fan”.
Bring it in the playoffs. If you cant do that, then what’s the point.
You’re just mad that Gio accidentally tripped McJesus while he was driving the net like it was game 7 of the SCF.
Ducks treated McD like a piñata in the series 2 years ago! If Oilers played Ducks in the first round that year they would be first round losers.
Impressed by a Flame? Lol. No you wouldn’t Raff.
Still peed off that your McJesus didn’t win, Raffy?
Mcjesus was up for the Norris? Damn he is good isn’t he
Not good enough to carry his lame team into the playoffs
and Johnny Gaudreau had twice as many first place votes for the Hart than McD!
Congratulations Gio.
Assuming you will see this.
Well hopefully now that he has a Norris he can concentrate on getting this team out of the 2nd round for the third time in 3 1/2 decades!!! Even those sucky @ss oilers have that crappy record beat 🙀
Yeah, Oilers with all those Number one draft picks and lottery wins and the best pick in every round…versus the Flames who have no picks in the top 5.
I believe those crappy oilers and there first overall picks still have a better playoff record then the flames this decade 😬🤫yikes can’t even beat those crappy oilers
Hahaha did you see how depressed McDavid was missing out on all the trophies. You can see how disappointed he is playing for the worst team in the league. And the worst in the last decade
At this rate he might not make the hall of fame!
Congrats to Gio!
WAY TO GO GIO!!
Well done and well deserved…congrats Gio
Yes congrats captain. Long time no see all. How is your summer going everyone?
Bitter yours ?
A First for a Flames D-man, and there have been some good ones over the years. This really puts into perspective what a year Gio had. Congrats Gio!
Congratulations to Mark for a great win and a great season.
Win the cup next year, then trade him. He will be 36.