Seattle Kraken: Breaking Down the Mark Giordano Trade
The Seattle Kraken have traded their Captain, Mark Giordano, to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a plethora of draft picks.
A day before the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline, the Seattle Kraken dealt Mark Giordano to the Toronto Maple Leafs. On the receiving end, the Kraken now have three more draft picks. They can utilize these picks to build their team over the next three years.
There is some debate as to whether Seattle could have secured a first round pick from Toronto. Especially considering earlier in the week, the Montreal Canadiens received one in the Ben Chiarot trade. Nevertheless, Seattle is three draft picks richer. This breathes a lot of hope into their future.
It was not a surprise that Giordano found his way onto the trade block. There has been plenty of speculation from fans that he might return to the Calgary Flames. Instead, he will spend the spring chasing a Stanley Cup Championship in his hometown of Toronto, Ontario.
While it is sad to see the first captain in Seattle Kraken history go, he wanted the chance to compete for a cup this spring. In his extensive hockey career, the 38-year-old defenseman has won his share of hardware. However, the Stanley Cup has always eluded him.
Being drafted by Seattle gave him a chance to lead the charge and help build something successful in the Pacific North. Unfortunately, the Kraken never found their footing like Vegas did when they entered the league. Likely nearing the end of his career, it is only fair that he be given a chance to raise the most coveted trophy amongst NHL teams.
NHL trade grades: Mark Giordano heads home to help Maple Leafs https://t.co/xNSpXATICY
— The Athletic Pittsburgh (@TheAthleticPGH) March 21, 2022