Mark Giordano Is A Finalist For The Norris Trophy

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 87 games, you know that Mark Giordano has had himself quite a season. The Flames Captain finished up the regular season with 17 goals and 57 assists, which were a career high in points (74) and assists. The Flames best blue liner was a herculean +39 on the year and had a career high in takeaways with 73. Due to his best season ever, Mark Giordano is now a finalist for the Norris Trophy which is awarded to the NHL’s best defenceman. Giordano’s season was off the charts and here’s a look at where he stood (as compared to defencemen) in some key categories:

Goals: 4th

Assists: 3rd

Points: 2nd

+/-: 1st

Shorthanded Goals: 1st

Even Strength Assists: 2nd

Game Winning Assists: 2nd

Shots: 5th

Giordano’s competition for the Norris Trophy are San Jose’s Brent Burns and Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman. Based on stats alone this is really a two horse race between Giordano and Burns. Hedman’s statistical line doesn’t compare to Burns or Giordano over the 82 game season (in his defence he played in 70 games), though he is the reigning Norris Trophy winner from last season.

This is the first time Mark Giordano has been named a finalist and if he wins he would be the first Calgary Flames player to do so. Al MacInnis finished second in the voting in 1988-89 and 1990-91 and Dion Phaneuf finished second in 2007-08 as well.

The NHL Awards presented by Bridgestone will take place on June 19th at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas at 8 PM ET.