The Calgary Flames have finalized a new contract extension for longtime defenseman and captain Mark Giordano. Bob McKenzie of TSN was the first to report the news. The team announced the move shortly thereafter, revealing that the deal carries a term of six years.
Giordano, 31, is set to enter the final year of a five-year, $20.1 million contract signed prior to the 2011-12 season. Per McKenzie, his new extension, which kicks in after 2015-16, carries a - very reasonable - $6.75 million AAV.
Giordan reached the NHL All-Star Game last season and was a finalist for the NHL's Foundation Player Award. He was leading all NHL defenseman in scoring with 11 goals and 37 assists in 61 games prior to sustaining a season-ending injury in late Feb.
The left-handed Giordano has been a key piece of the Flames return to prominence in recent seasons, aiding youngsters like Johnny Gaudreau in their development and providing a strong veteran presence in the locker room.
Giordano has been the captain of the Flames since 2013. He's played his entire NHL career in Calgary and has amassed 66 goals, 179 assists and 466 penalty minutes in 510 professional games.
As ESPN's Craig Custance noted in the wake of the announcement of the deal, Giordano will be 32-years-old by the time the extension kicks in, making the lower level AAV more understandable.
