Flames still waiting to learn extent of Mark Giordano's 'upper-body injury'
UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Mark Giordano was injured Wednesday night moments before the Calgary Flames scored an empty-net goal to put away the New Jersey Devils. Two days later, the team still hasn’t released an official diagnosis, other than the routine “upper-body injury.”
That can’t be good.
General manager Brad Treliving did not have an update for reporters on Giordano’s status during the team's morning skate on Long Island Friday, other than to say the captain remains with the team on the road trip.
“We know Gio,” said Flames head coach Bob Hartley. “We know how much of a warrior he is.”
The Flames aren’t divulging much about whatever is afflicting Giordano, and Treliving didn’t want to get too far ahead of himself before an official diagnosis comes down from the medical staff. With three days until the trade deadline, however long the defenseman is out could affect the way the GM approaches a potential replacement. For the time being Corey Potter will take his place in the lineup and Tyler Wotherspoon has been recalled from Adirondack of the AHL.
If Giordano is set to miss any extended period of time, does that hasten any potential move regarding Curtis Glencross?
Whatever the case, losing Giordano any extended period of time would be a huge blow for a Flames team one point out of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.
Treliving did say on the Fan960 Friday morning that he doesn’t have an appetite to make a deal that impacts the long-term future of the team. Calgary is a young, growing squad, but there are plenty of reasons to be hesistant about reacting irrationally to the potential loss of Giordano. The player has to fit with Hartley’s system and the price needs to be right.
“You’re always monitoring the team and where they’re at and injuries and all those types of things [you] take into consideration,” Treliving said. “The fact of the matter is there’s certain players you don’t replace. There’s not a Mark Giordano tree sitting out there that you just go just pluck one from.
“But the reality is I don’t think you replace a Mark Giordano. You definitely don’t replace him at the end of February. Those players are just not out there.”
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
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