Seattle Kraken: Best trade partners in each division for Mark Giordano
PNWS Staff
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Seattle Kraken Captain, Mark Giordano, is a pending unrestricted free agent. The team has to trade him to get back some assets, or he leaves for free after the season. Here are the Kraken’s best trade partners in each division.
On the ice, the inaugural season of Seattle Kraken hockey hasn’t been very successful. Currently, Seattle occupies last place in the NHL’s Pacific Division with 36 points in 49 games. Honestly, the Kraken don’t have enough talent to compete for the playoffs; far from it. But that shouldn’t stop them from building for the future.
The next step in developing a solid team is the NHL trade deadline on March 21. It’s a semi do-over for Seattle General Manager, Ron Francis. By selling off players who could help other teams reach or succeed in the playoffs, he can get young players and draft picks. Both are crucial to creating a core. Matty Beniers, the Kraken’s first-round pick in 2021, will be here soon, but he’ll need help.
Gio
Aside from room under the salary cap, Francis’ biggest asset at the deadline is defenseman Mark Giordano. The Seattle Kraken captain is an unrestricted free agent after the season, so now is the time to gain some assets instead of letting him walk away for nothing.
Giordano has racked up many accolades since his first season in the juniors with Owen Sound 20 years ago. He’s won the Norris Trophy (20i8-19) given to NHL’s best defenseman and the Messier Award (2019-20) for leadership. Giordano also had a 74-point season, represented his country internationally on several occasions, and made three All-Star appearances. He’s done almost everything there is to do in professional hockey, except win a Stanley Cup.
At, 37-years-old, Giordano isn’t the player he was three or so years earlier, but Gio still brings plenty to the table. He can handle the puck as it seems to stay on his stick until he wants to pass it. His positioning in both zones is excellent; he hits hard and shoots hard from the point.
Those traits, in addition to his outstanding leadership on and off the ice, make him very desirable to contending teams. They will part with the young talent, and future draft picks to strengthen their chances at hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup in June.
With 31 days until trading stops until after the Stanley Cup Finals end, these are the best trade partners in each division for Giordano and the Seattle Kraken.