32 Thoughts: The Podcast - Mark Giordano

Episode Date: February 15, 2023

He’s a Norris Trophy winner and he’s played over 1,000 games. Mark Giordano joins Jeff and Elliotte at the Toronto Maple Leafs practice facility inside the NHL Alumni office to talk about his NHL journey, coming to Toronto, playing 1,000 games, his favourite movie, when he’d like to retire, being a leader in the room, staying in touch with former teammates, some of his most memorable on-ice altercations, and what it means to him as he approaches the all-time blocked shots record.Email the podcast at [e-mail] or call The Thought Line at 1-833-311-3232 and leave us a voicemailMusic Outro: CVC - Music StuffListen to the full track HEREGET YOUR 32 THOUGHTS MERCH HEREThis podcast was produced and mixed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman.Audio Credits: Fox Sports, News 10, Seattle Kraken and Sportsnet.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Good to go, Amal? Yeah. 3, 2, 1. Welcome once again to another 32 Thoughts interview podcast, presented as always by GMC and the new Sierra AT4X, Merrick Friedman, and our producer, Amal Delic. Our guest this week, Elliot, never drafted in junior, never drafted in the NHL, has always been a walk-on wherever he's gone.

But as he walks on, he quickly distinguishes himself as one of the best players on just about every single team he's part of. Our guest today is Mark Giordano of the Toronto Maple Leafs. We sat down with Mark Tuesday at the Toronto Maple Leafs practice facility, and I like this guy a lot. I always have, whether it's him playing with the Owen Sound attack, We'll be right back. Flames, a Seattle Kraken, or most recently the Toronto Maple Leafs. He's always been someone I've really enjoyed watching. Elliot, your thoughts on Mark Sherdan? You think about it, he played his first full season in the NHL, like his first full 82-game season in 2009-10.

And at that point, he was 26 years old. And now he's still going at age 39 and he's almost at 1100 games it's amazing i'm trying to think how many people have had a career arc like that like they started that late were really broken and made it that late and still lasted as long as he did it's really an incredible story. And that's what I think about when I think about him. And it was driven to me earlier this season when the team was really struggling. They were not doing well, and he basically carried their blue line.

He was their best blue liner at a time they were really thin. And that's when I was kind of reminded that he may be 39 years old but he's still got a lot to give sure does still a lot of hockey to play this season and subsequent seasons as well but there may be a twist to that one that you'll find out a little bit later on in the podcast before we get going though a number of people to thank want to start with Steve Keough of the Toronto Maple Leafs for helping make this interview happen. Brody Polango of the Alumni Association for hanging around

and letting us use the alumni space. Thank you very much, Brody. Our crew, Mark Utley, Michael Attick, Adrian Chetty, and Stephen Coyle. You guys make our job so much easier than Elliot and I deserve. Thank you, thank you a million times. Thank you. So here he is, Mark Giordano of the Toronto Maple Leafs on 32 Thoughts, the podcast. Mark, we're in the offices of the NHL alumni right now. Over there is a lovely picture of Jean Beliveau behind Elliot and and i there's uh autographed

jerseys of the famous detroit production line when you're in a place like this surrounded with history and great pictures of legends of of the game what goes through your mind just the history just knowing uh i think back to like myself and when i grew up and all the the stars that i watched in in the era i think me thinking, that's a little further back. That's more of my dad's era. But guys like Gretzky, Lemieux, Doug Gilmore, Wendell Clark more in Toronto when I grew up. I just think of all the history and how much it meant for me watching those guys growing up. Who was your favorite player growing up?

It was Doug Gilmore for sure when the Leafs, I was obviously being from here and they were going on those runs in, you know, 93 and 94 when they lost in the conference finals both years. But then as I grew older and started appreciating my position more in defense, I would go like Ray Bork was one guy I really looked up to and then Nick Littstrom, you know, as I got, you know got into junior and stuff,

old enough to understand the ins and outs of the game. And then it's pretty cool to play against him too in my first few years. Did you ever line up next to him or stand next to him on the ice and say, you know, you were my favorite player when I was growing up? I couldn't speak, but I lined up across from him.

We actually played him playoffs when you're in Calgary. We played Detroit. I think it was, that would have been my first playoffs ever. And I mean, I remember looking across at that lineup and they had Hasik and that, they had Datsuk Zetterberg. It was cool, but he's the one guy who I always looked up to. And it was sort of with the one guy you were out there

and you're like, you're in awe playing against him. I'm always curious as a defenseman, you look at Nick Lidstrom play, like there are things that stand out to us. Oh, watch him walk the line, get a shot through. Like, what was it about Lidstrom for you that as a defenseman you looked at and you said, wow, that's incredible. Just how efficient, how easy he made it seem like on breakouts and stuff. And, uh, I remember like dumping pucks into his corner. He'd just go back and every single time he'd break it out clean, it seem like on breakouts and stuff. And I remember like dumping pucks into his corner. He'd just go back and every single time he'd break it out clean, it seemed like.

So yeah, but the one that does stand out, like you said, is the walk in the line and being able to hit Holmstrom for a tip or score himself a lot of the time. But I would say just watching how easy, it didn't seem like he was sweating out there most of the time and breaking it out was so easy for him. So when you first got recognized and sort of scouted and brought into the OHL, I talked to someone last night who said the thing about Giordano was he played

in this tiny rink in Brampton. You know the one I'm talking about? Really small. And the puck would go into his corner and he had like no time, but he would always break the puck out clean. He would take the hit to make the play. You were the Lidstrom of Brampton Hawks. You were the Nick Lidstrom.

What do you remember from those days? Because that was your calling. He'll take the hit. He'll always make the play. Yeah, you know what's funny? I played in a little rink, and I played in St. Mike's growing up too. I played for the North York Canadiens when I was young, and I played in Brampton.

And I do think it helps you get used to that, like playing in those close quarters and making plays under pressure. So I don't remember breaking it all clean every time, but I do remember, I remember our squad was pretty, pretty stacked. We won the whole thing that year. We didn't get to go to the, what's it called when the junior team wins the RBC and out, out east? The RBC and out, out east? The RBC Cup, yeah. Is that, we didn't get to go because there's some dispute going on that year, which was really disappointing, but we ran through the

league pretty good. And I just remember it was a lot of fun. And yeah, the old Brampton Memorial, what a rink. It's, it's, I mean, you can legit score from center. So if you have a good shot, so it was good. So did you play in minor hockey, did you play

with any other guys who made it or play with any other guys who made it or play against any other guys who made it? Oh yeah. I mean, growing up, Trevor Daly, Carlo Koliakovo, Spez, Jason Speza, they were all my age, Matt Stajan. So we had a, we had a pretty good class, I think of 83s in the, in the MTHL back then.

Now it's the GTHL, but it was really competitive and a lot of good players, I think, came on. Who was the best player back then? It was Spence. It was Spence. Yeah. I figured when you said him, it had to, so what was he like as a 13, 14 year old to play against?

So when we were really young, he, he was sort of like a tall, skinny, like had to fill into his body. And then I think like there was a switch. It was like when we were either 12 or 13, he just took off and, uh, much like he is now, like super skilled, uh, saw the game really well, made plays everywhere.

He, but he was, he was head and shoulders above everyone else. So like, uh, one of the things I'm curious about, like Mark, by now, everybody kind of knows your route here. Like you're talking about Jason Spatz, a extremely high pick. Carlo Koliakovo, I think everybody knew he was your root here. Like you're talking about Jason Spezza, extremely high pick. Carlo Koliakovo, I think everybody knew

he was going to play. Matt Stajan was a pretty high pick. So when you made it to the NHL, I'm curious, like what did those guys all say to you? They all say the same thing. They're like, man, you weren't that good when we were younger. But they're like, basically like,

where did you come from sort of thing. But no, I mean, I could hold my own, but I definitely was basically like where did you come from sort of thing but no i mean i i could hold my own but i definitely was never like the top player on my team or anything like that and then i think my game really came around after i went to own sound and played junior and then took off i'm just wondering like in the in the nhl like the first time you saw stage in or coley akivo special doesn't seem like the kind of guy to do that yeah but what like what would they say to you when they first saw you in Calgary? Yeah.

They're just like, you know, you weren't that good when you were young. And they're like, wow, you really turned it around. But no, I can't remember like where I would stand on my team as far as like defensemen when I was that young. I still like to think I would be top three or four defensemen on our team. But yeah, I didn't stand out like any of those guys did at that young of an age. But as we got older, for sure, it sort of changed.

You did an Owen Sound. I mean, you came in as a 19-year-old, and you played 19 and 20 there. You stood out. By Christmas, everyone was saying, okay, the Giordano kid is the best player on the team. He's the best defenseman on the team, best player on the team.

Yeah, but I think also going in at it as a 19 year old, people are also expecting you to be, to be good. Right. So I think, um, you know, that's probably obviously a big reason why I

wasn't drafted. You're older, but I played tier two when I was, uh, 18 in Brampton on the Capitals and had a really good year there. So there was like, you know,

like whispers to me that I might get drafted in a later round that just as a flyer, someone take like a pick on me, but, uh, didn't happen. And it actually turned out better being a free agent. Your story is a fascinating one because not drafted in the OHL, not drafted into the NHL. And Elliot and I were talking about this, I guess like a couple of years ago that in everyone's career, you face a moment where you say to yourself, here's my decision. I either quit or I work harder.

And it seemed every time you were faced with that decision, you chose to work harder. And it got you to Owen Sound. Then it got you to Lowell. And it got you to Omaha. And it got you to Calgary, et cetera, et cetera. Were you ever close to saying, maybe I'm going to make the other decision? Not really, but I was, there was points like there's,

you know, when I first started playing, honestly, I was like, man, if I can figure out a way to play pro hockey long enough to get myself, you know, a nice house, it would be pretty cool. And then, and then all of a sudden, my three-way contract that I started with turned into a two-way. And then I got some NHL games and you're like, you start getting greedy, right?

You're like, oh man, now if I can get a nice house paid off, a car and, you know, a bit of money in the bank, it's pretty cool. And then as you get older and you keep playing against these guys, you believe in yourself. Like I started believing in myself more and more, especially, you know, after i went to russia and came back i really had a lot of confidence but uh then it just starts becoming about like i'm gonna get this contract but also as you get older you're you're well aware that winning is is so important and it becomes more and more important so you establish you're trying to establish yourself in the league get your foot in in there and make a living for yourself basically. And then I think after that, everything else comes. But for the young guys now, it's like they're expecting to play.

I was just like, oh man, I got to make the NHL. I got to make the NHL was like off in the distance. But then when you get there, you realize you can play and you start getting more and more greedy. Can I ask you one quick question about the KHL? Because you were, to my mind, correct me if I'm wrong here, and Elliot, chime in on this too. I remember when you went to the KHL and you came back. In my mind, you were the first player,

first North American player that left North America, went to the KHL, and came back better. Yeah. That never happens. What was the KHL experience like for better. Yeah. That never happens. Like what was the KHL experience like for you? Because you came back and it was like, Giordano's on a different planet now. Yeah.

I mean, I agree. I think I felt way better. I felt more confident for sure, but I was playing like 25 minutes, especially in playoffs there. I was playing 25 to 30 a night. Yeah. A pretty good league with a lot of skilled players.

It was like, I was getting a lot of experience just in, in working my game. And, uh, I don't know. I think some of it has to do too. Like I went pretty young. Uh, most guys, when they go over there at some might be on the back end of their career, uh, or

they can't really find a job, uh, over here. So that's like sort of at the end. But for me it was, uh, yeah, it was right in the middle of like, man, am I going to make a living doing this? Or am I going to have to go to work or maybe I can go to Europe and make a living. So a lot of different factors went into it, but I did feel way better as a player. And I also felt more confident coming back. I mean, Daryl in Calgary, you know, he was like, we'll sign you to one way. And I'm like, oh, perfect. And he was like, but we have to sign you for three years. And I didn't really understand what he was saying at the time.

What he was saying basically was they were taking away some of my UFA years, but I was like, perfect. I'll take the three years. You're the worst negotiator ever. Was Sutter the first guy who ever told you you were going to make it? Yeah, he was awesome. Cause he's fair. Like he was a, he called us all in. I remember there was first rounders, second rounders, and then the undrafted guys. We were all in the same room, all the rookies. And he goes, I don't care who's drafted where. If you're good enough, you're going to play.

And, you know, a lot of people say that, but he held true to his word. Like me and Richie were gear. He was also undrafted. Robin's brother, I believe he was undrafted. We were two of the first call-ups from the AHL as defensemen to play in Calgary just because of the performance base. For sure.

One thing I wanted to ask you was, so on Monday night, we're here in Toronto, it's the Blue and White Gala, which is a, which is a really great charity event the Maple Leafs do. And one of the things they did was which was outstanding was table reads of famous movie scenes like John Tavares and Mitch Marner did a scene from the notebook they're also very irresponsible I have a fiance waiting for me at the hotel who's gonna be crushed when he finds out what I did so you made love to me Was that your plan?

Was that a test that you'd pass? I made a promise to a man He gave me a ring And I gave him my word Well your words are pretty shot to hell now And the Jerry Maguire You had me at hello scene Was Austin Matthews and William Nylander

And TJ Brody did the famous Liam Neeson scene from Taken. And it's the most emotion I think TJ Brody has ever shown. And you did the big scene from Titanic with Michael Bunton where they're in the water. So my question to you, Mark, is when the Maple Leaf staff came to you and said, we want you to act as Rose from the Titanic. What did you say to them? I said, absolutely. One of my favorite movies of all time. I mean, Titanic was awesome when it first came out. I remember going to the theater a few times and

watching it, but I was just happy that the line, my lines were short and Bunce were paragraphs. So I was like, I'll take it. I have to say, I don't know how many NHLers I'd meet whose favorite movie was Titanic. i have no shame in saying that it's coming it's coming out again uh that's right a big screen soon so michael might have to go take the kids to watch it why not it was a huge blockbuster when i was growing up a huge movie i wanted to ask you this when it happened i never got a chance what was it like having game number 1,000 in Seattle?

It was close in Calgary. Yeah. And then. It was, I mean, they did an unbelievable job. My dad actually was able to do like the voiceover for like the video, which was really cool. I didn't know anything about that. What is a thousand?

It's a drop in the bucket of everything that came before. It's tens of thousands of hours dedicated to a dream. It's hitting the rink at 5 a.m. to get ice time before school. It's weekend tournaments when mom and dad drive you hours each way just to play. It's leaving home at 17 because that's the next step in the journey. It's giving up things because the game gives you everything. It drives you. It fills your thoughts and fuels fire inside that makes you believe that you belong in the NHL. If you do the math, it's 3,000 periods. It's 60,000 minutes of hockey.

It's 2,000 hours of airline travel, equating to a million miles on the road. It's 7,000 miles skated. That's like skating from Toronto to Calgary, back to Toronto, then here to Seattle. It's a thousand games, but it's more than that. Obviously, my parents were there, my sister was there. It was just a really cool experience.

A little bit weird because, if you guys remember correctly, I wasn't playing that game because it was a trade deadline. But yeah, just the overall experience was great. Had my kids with me. But yeah, there's a lot of great memories, obviously, going back to Calgary. But the way Seattle treated me in that short time, man, I love those guys over there for sure. Now, you've had a couple of crazy years of transactions.

First, you've got the expansion draft, and then you had the deadline. And which one was wilder, more taxing, more stressing? Which one of the two was harder? I would say the draft, the expansion draft for sure. Just because I'd been in Calgary for so long and, uh, it was so weird. Like when they tell you, when people are like, oh, you knew you were going to Seattle. And I'm like, no, actually I didn't write to the end.

Like I had an idea that it might happen, but just never being on a different team, your whole career playing in one city. My kids were, were fairly settled at their schools and stuff. So I was like, okay, this is going to be a big transition for us. And it was. But, you know, the few days leading up to that was pretty emotional having to leave a city you've been for, I was there for 15 years. You know, one of my famous stories I remember about you and your family in Calgary was the night before the NHL Awards in Vegas.

You're in Vegas. And we all, the reporters, we thought you were a slam dunk for the Norris because we kind of all know how everybody votes. But your brother-in-law came up to me and he says, do you think that Mark's going to win? I go, I think he's going to win it by a mile. And I go, really? Because we all flew here and we're so nervous. We don't think he's actually going to win. Yeah. Nobody wanted to jinx it. They weren't talking, but yeah, I mean, I had a great year and I had a pretty good feeling about it, but you never know until you're announced.

What was that night like with your family? Where'd you take them for dinner? And what was that whole night like? Oh, it was amazing. It was one of the highlights of my career, obviously. After winning the award, you go back and you take all the pictures and that was

like emotional and everyone was excited and then i can't remember the name of the restaurant it was in the casino where we were staying there at the win and we were just sitting there i think it was like a group of 25 of us just hanging out and having some laughs and enjoying the night and uh a lot of family a lot of friends it It was just like really, really cool experience. Awesome. When I say the name Tom Webster, what comes to your mind? The late, great Tom Webster. Oh, I mean, he's a big reason why I'm in the NHL.

I think the story goes that he was scouting Harvey in Own Sound. And yeah, he came and saw me play and was one of the scouts or whatever his role was at the time who went to bat for me. He was in the coach's office after every game, I was told. Yeah. Giordano, Giordano, Giordano, Giordano. Yeah, if it weren't for him, really. If it's not for people like that along the way,

especially when you're undrafted and you're not a well-known guy, it's not going to like that along the way like especially when you're undrafted and you're not a well-known guy it it's not going to happen most of the time and uh i mean i i can't say enough great things about him what he meant and then after getting to meet him and just talking him and trying to help me along with my game and where i needed help he was huge for my career listen to 32 thoughts the podcast ad podcast, ad-free on Amazon Music, included with Prime. Toronto. Okay. Seattle, did you know you were going to be a Leaf? Like, did you have an idea?

So leading up to the deadline, I had an idea, obviously, but there's, my agent kept telling me that, you know, there's three or four teams in the mix. I think it was, uh, you know, the Rangers, Carolina teams like Toronto. I heard Carolina. Yeah. And, uh, I mean, I, you just don't believe it till it happens, but I was like, man, like it would be a pretty good fit. I looked at, uh, I think Muzz was hurt at the time. I think they had a, like a couple openings on the left side and I'm like, it would be a great fit. I looked at, uh, I think Muzz was hurt at the time. I think they had a, like a couple openings on the left side and I'm like, it would be a great fit. And then for me personally,

obviously the transition couldn't be any easier, like compared to the other teams. So I was pretty excited. And then when I got the call, uh, Ron Francis called me in and, uh, I was in the dress room actually working out and he came down and he's like, if there's one place you'd want to get traded, where would it be to? And I'm like, well, Toronto would be nice. And he's like, I traded you to Toronto. So he's already done it? Yeah, yeah.

I didn't know Rod Francis had that kind of sense of humor. I think he kind of knew that it was one of my preferred teams. But yeah, it was a great day. And then, you know, the family catches wind and everyone was excited. Some players I know who are from here, they're afraid to play here. They're worried about distractions. They're worried about, you know, the pressure of playing in the hometown. I was thinking, you know, you were post-35 at that time.

None of that stuff must have worried you. No, I mean, yeah, I think the point that I am at in you know, you were post 35 at that time. None of that stuff must have worried you. No, I mean, yeah, I think the point that I am at in my career, right. And, and, uh, I mean, I could see as a young guy coming in here, there's a lot of pressure and being from here, but, uh, for me, it's like, uh, it's exciting. It's like a celebration at play for the Leafs. You know what I mean? It's a, it's a big deal. We were all Leaf fans, Leaf fans growing up and there's

those stressful moments anywhere you play. Like Calgary was stressful too at certain times, but I just, I enjoy playing here, play hard. And I think I've gained a real appreciation for the fan base here too, because they appreciate guys who go out there and play, play hard. You had, you've won a Norris trophy, so you've

had great years, but I was talking to somebody about you saying, we're going to interview you today. And he said to me that Giordano's had points in his career where he's played better, but I don't know if he's ever had a point in his career where it was more important for him to play as well as he did at the beginning of this season. Like everybody was going down around you.

And you stepped up and, you know, he called it considering at what point you are in your career, some of the best hockey you've played. Do you agree with that? Yeah, I feel really good this year. I feel like the last few years were up and down, bump, a little bumpy at times, but I feel, um, I feel really confident in my game again. I feel like for me, games are always judged.

Like a lot of people judge games and you guys know this based on goals and assists and points. And I think for me, I realized fairly quickly here what kind of decor we have and what kind of offensive guys we have. And I'm going to be more in a shutdown defensive role, penalty kill role, which I'm really enjoying. And I really try to embrace it and feel really good. I feel physically as well as i have in in years i mean not to say that i didn't feel good physically but i mean i have that jump i feel like i have jump and and uh reading plays the way the way i can so i feel really good oh sorry i asked i asked sheldon if there was going to be any load management of you and he, you ask Mark Giordano that question

basically is what he said. I don't, I don't, I'm not a big believer in load management, but, uh, you guys need to stop bringing that up to him. So he can take that thought out of his, uh. How's he ask you about it? Oh, he's been great. He's always, you know, he's always saying like, if

you need, need a skate off or, uh, you know, some time or anything like that, he's like, you just let me know and we'll, we'll manage it. And, uh, we have done some things like there's, we do a lot of like skill development and things before and after practice here where, uh, you know, they'll tell me you're not going

out for this and that, but there's certain things that I do that are part of my routine that I can't like get away from. And one of them is like our pregame skate, but our pregame skates here are like eight, nine minutes. So it's perfect. So just to get loose and get warm and,

and, uh, get the body going. Uh, I want to ask you about a record that's on the horizon. It's, uh,

it's wonderful that you say that you're feeling good. And what I think makes that more impressive is how many times you've blocked a shot. You're going to set the record. Oh, really? You're going to set the record.

That's on the horizon. Eight away from Chris Russell. Yeah. My buddy Russ, i'm gonna take over his record you're you're taking over do you have a thought on that like i know that there's certain bench right we've talked a lot about the norris trophy and boxes that you check along the way my first this my first that my first trophy etc for a record like that i mean is, there's no school for blocking shots. Like there are ways you can learn and techniques. And, but I mean, a lot of it is. Yeah. A lot of it's guts.

Yeah. A lot of it's having the will to do it. I think playing on the penalty kill most of my career, you obviously have to block. If you're a defenseman and you don't block shots on the penalty kill, it's going in your net a lot because of the shooters we have in the game. Especially coming in off the half wall. So no no i take a lot of pride in it uh it's something i've always you know felt like if the block's there i'm gonna take it sometimes you can get into trouble you gotta you gotta be aware of screening your goal and stuff like that but i've always always enjoyed it you know there's thoughts too you don't want to be blocking too many five on five because that

means you're in your zone a lot but uh on the penalty kill and stuff like that and especially in desperation times like when you know those those moments where it's you either block it or it's in your net i really think it's important whose shot were you scared of oh uh uh shay weber's for sure and sheldon Surrey comes to mind too. And I, his was scary because I could never read where it was going off his blade. And most guys, like if they pull it or drag it a bit, even slappers, like most of the time you

have a, you can be aware of which side of your body it's going on. Surrey, I had no clue. Did he know where it was going or was he? I don't think so. That's what made it so effective, right? If you don't know it's going in, but know where it was going? I don't think so. That's what made it so effective, right? If you don't know, it's going in. And it was extremely heavy.

And of course, Weber's is extremely heavy. But the thing that saved me is I play left and he usually loads it up from the other side. So the right deal, eat those ones. So will Chris Russell be getting a text, like move over? I'll text him now that you guys told me that I'm coming for you I wanted to ask you about your new teammates in Toronto There's a lot of interesting guys here A lot of big names

Was there anybody that you saw from the outside And you got to know them from the inside And you said that's different than what I expected Or different than what I thought Yeah I would say for me, it's Willie, Willie Nylander. I think, you know, from the outside, you don't really know he's a skilled guy, you know, looks

like he's different, a little bit different, but getting to know him, he's, he's just a great guy. Easy to talk to, super nice. And, you know, he has that confidence. You don't, you don't get to know that till you get to know him personally. Like he has like a real confidence about him that goes a long way with his game. And he's hilarious to be around.

He's just a funny guy. You know, you're not the first person to say that to me. Like the William Nylander that we see on the outside and the William Nylander you really get to know, they're not what you think they are. No, it's hard to explain, but he's got a really likable personality and he's hilarious. He just every day it's something new with Willie and it's, it's funny. There's not like a care in the world. Like, like nothing really bothers him.

He has that confidence. He'll wear like outrageous clothes one day and then the next day it'll be totally normal. Like, it's just, uh, I guess the best way to explain him is like, you're never really going to get a great read on him. He's just, he's just Willie. And do you keep in touch with any of the guys,

your friends from Calgary? Oh, of course. Like a Ginlan, all those guys you keep in touch with? Yeah, like Iggy and the guys who are retired, like through text here once in a while. Iggy's really busy with his kids now, I'm sure you know. And then like Robert Regeer and guys like that. Faneuf, Dion, I still text once in a while.

And, and then the active players, of course, like when, when things happen around the league or something happens, like, uh, you know, I was texting with Looch the other night when they got in a little brawl there with the Rangers or they had a game where they were just, everyone was hitting each other and it was a, it was a great game.

So we just chat back and forth and talk. Did you ask Lelouches why he let Sammy Blaine knock him over? Oh, he was pretty upset about that. Yeah, he was pretty upset. That's all I could say about that one. Sammy Blaine got traded so they won't be there for the rematch and Jeff's all disappointed.

I know, that's on the 18th. Look forward to that one. I spoke to someone last night who said if there was a Selkie trophy for a defenseman, you'd be in the conversation every single season. Oh, that's cool. What is the part of your game that you take the most pride in? Oh, for sure, shutting down other

teams' best players. I think that's something I've always like night in and night out. You look at the lineups, you look at who you're probably going to get matched up against, and I think it's important to always try and win your matchup. And, you know, I think that's part of this year when, you know, you see Broads and Mo and Muzz go down.

I mean, it's important for guys like me and Haller and the young guys who really stepped up. Like, you better shut down these top guys on other teams or they're going to beat you. And take a lot of pride in that. Take a lot of pride in my defensive side of the game. It's always fun to play offense, I'm not going to lie. But, you know, sort of as you get older and you realize you're on a team like we are with guys like Riley, guys like Sandin, guys like Lilligren, you almost have to say, listen, like, it's their time to play on the power play

and step up and play those minutes and get those minutes for the team. So I'm excited now to be looked at as a shutdown D-man if I can later in my career. I wonder how many guys come up to you and ask you for advice? Like just because you've been around, like how many of those guys say to you, what do you think about this or how do I handle this? Yeah, they do. Like a bunch of the young guys on our team do. And they're.

What do they ask you? Like, just an example, like I was talking to Connor Timmons about, uh, he was asking me about playing guys one-on-one out of the corners and how to play. And I, you know, I was explaining to him, uh, you know, when you're young, the tendency is to run and try and pin a guy in the corner.

And cause that's what the coaches are telling you close quick, close quick. And I said, you know, you better be aware who you're against. Cause if you're against Sid or if you're against McDavid, they're waiting for you to run and they'll spin you and beat you. And it's either a penalty or a goal against. So little things like that. For me watching young guys, what I was taught,

like Mike Stothers in Owen Sound, he was huge on stick position and, and body position. And like, for me, the one thing young guys can learn the most at coming in, everyone's so skilled now and can skate and can move is like stick position and how much your stick can help you dictate where you want the guy to go.

So little things like that, I'll try and help. And then, uh, other than that, just trying to make sure guys have confidence, right? That's the number one thing. Try and pump them up when they do some, some really well and, uh, uh,

not beat up on them too much when it goes the other way. Well, that's the thing. Like at the beginning of this year, the year started poorly. It was a total loony bin in the city. And I know,

I remember the media, so I'm as much as responsible for everyone as anyone. But like, I wonder like how much you help those guys kind of just get through it. Like, this is not going to last. Like we just got to play. Like how much do you do that?

Yeah. It was important at the start of the year because it's like, it's like that every year. Like you lose the first game of the season. It's a holy cow. Like we're not going to make playoffs. And it's like, well, we got 81 left. So it's like that in every team I played for every city. But yeah, I think we have a pretty good group and a pretty good sense of that like we knew we were gonna be a good team you know i'm not gonna lie after game eight or nine we were kind of like okay

boys it's time to go now but uh um i just think it was about really simplifying and starting to play the right way we were sort of up and down back and forth. And it was on, you know, guys like John, obviously or the leader and then myself and Mo and those guys to like really make sure like there's a lot of noise, we're okay though. Okay. Um, how much longer do you think you're going to play? Um, I think that question depends a lot on, uh, if we win the Stanley cup, it'll, it'll, uh, it'll change my, maybe my mind, but I'm going to go as long as I possibly can.

So I think looking at it today, I got definitely another year after this, obviously with my contract. But, uh, I think I I'd like to go beyond that now thinking about it today. Like you could, like you're in great shape, you're still playing well. Yeah. Your team respects you, like you could play for a while. As long as my skating can keep up and I can keep that level of speed that I need to obviously keep up with these young guys flying around, I think I can read the game well enough where I can go for a few more years.

The guy behind us on the wall played until he was 52. Like, you know, like... I always remember looking at Chelly, too, on the bench. When Chellios was on the bench, I'm like, wow, I don't know how that guy's going to... how that guy's playing so late. But, yeah, I'll go for a few more years for sure. But if you win the Cup, you have a decision to make, you think?

I do. I think that'll be, you know, if we win it, that'll be, that'll be decision time as well. If I'm going to keep going or if I'm going to call it at that point. But yeah, so it might be, it might be shorter, a lot shorter, hopefully then, I don't know. Then you win it and then there's another side of you that's like, okay, I want another, I want

another. I want this feeling again. Again. So what I'm saying is that's the only thing that'll change my mind that is going to make me stop. I think I, I think for sure I'm going to play this year out, obviously next year out and then go from there. We talked earlier about, you know, when you turn pro and,

oh, I'd like to get a house and pay for the house and have a car. You've done a lot of these things financially, you're secure. I am curious because you come in on a really team-friendly contract. And I think one of the things that a lot of fans, too, look at that and say, like, we got Mark Giordano with this number? This is incredible. Some players want to get the most they can get at the end of their career. Others have different ideas. Where's money at?

Like on the ladder of things that's important to you right now, where's money? Well, look, financially, obviously, I'm in a good spot. I can take care of my wife, my kids, you know, my family. So a lot of the decision in signing here for what I did was, you know, I'm not at a place where I need to chase the biggest contract I can find. It was more about what value does having my kids living in the same city as their grandparents going to school here being from here my wife and I am probably going to spend the rest of our lives here what what value does that uh mean to us as a family and it meant a lot so I was I was willing to obviously sign for what I signed for here and and, and for me, it's, I'm at the point of my

career where I want to obviously chance to win it and I'm chasing it here at the end. And I thought this was the best way to help the team in that sense. But as far as the other stuff, like I could have probably went to market and got a bit more money, but I was, I valued like living in Toronto with my family and the parents being around and all that a lot more.

Here's my last one. You watched the Super Bowl the other night? Yeah. Okay, so Jeff and I are really taking polls on this question. You saw the penalty at the end of the game? Yeah. Mahomes, pressure, lofting one, end zone, incomplete. Juju Smith-Schuster couldn't catch up.

There's a flag at the 10. Hang on, there's a penalty. Call you like to see with the game on the line or call you wouldn't want game on the line? Not a call I want to see with the game on the line. Now, is that because you would be the guy doing the holding? Because I'm a defenseman. Yeah.

Prior to the pass, holding. Number 24, defense. Five-yard penalty. Automatic. First down. Yeah, that's worst-yard penalty. Automatic first down. Yeah, that's worst-case scenario. You'll see James Bradbury. They're going to say he grabs him.

He's got his left hand on his back. I don't know. Mike, listen. I think on this stage, I think you let him play. Obviously, Mahomes thought he saw it. I think. I saw a quote from Kyle Pozo where he said, that's not what I want to see.

I'm just curious. Would NHL players want to see that call with the game on the line? No, I just think anytime you're in that, like that's such a high pressure situation. I mean, old school, I guess I'd like to see it be a bad hold, if you're going to call it, or just let the game play out at that point. Awesome. Okay, last one for me,

and we're going to go in the wayback machine here a little bit. This was a wild situation. I'm going to go back to your American Hockey League career. I'm going to go to a game between Lowell and Norfolk, and you know where I'm going. Yeah. Break brawl, referee breaks a leg. Yeah.

It goes on and on, and there's a goalie fight at the end. I think it all started because Brad Myers punched Trent Yanni, who was the coach on the other team. He grabbed him by the tie and punched him. End of the first period, Lock Monster and Admirals players and coaches on the ice. Reports, an Admirals player was speared by a Lowell player. That even got Trent Yanni, the head coach, Mr. Mildmannert himself, into the fight. And yes, everybody got into it.

Even the goaltenders got into it, if you can believe it. Look at this. It's like watching elephants fight when you see two goaltenders go. When things calm down, over 119 minutes in penalties. Several players on both sides. Both head coaches tossed out all before the eyes of the league president, Dave Andrews, who just happened to be in attendance tonight. Oh, man, that was crazy.

What do you remember from that? Because I'm fascinated by that whole, and the whole thing took about 10 or 12 minutes, I believe. And I've talked to a couple of people that were involved in it. Like the teams are in the rooms, basically half the teams.

Coaches are on the ice. Yanni's in a suit and he's getting hit. And the worst part about Norfolk was you had to cross benches and that's how it all started. So we came back out, crossed again. But the thing I remember the most about it was all the tough guys.

And there was a lot back then on each team. As soon as the brawl started, they all geared right down. They took their shoulder pads off and it was more like shadow boxing. And like, I learned a bit, I'm like, why'd they do that? And it was so you couldn't just get grabbed

onto and suckered. So somebody had to come around and face you if they're going to get you. The lessons you learned in the American Hockey League. Was that the wildest thing in hockey you've been part of? That one and the Calgary-Vancouver Brawl with Torts and Bob Harley. Those are the two that stick out for sure.

John Tortorella has gone over to the Calgary Flames hallway outside their room. That's the Canucks coach outside the Calgary room. There's Brian McGratton trying to push him aside with some of the Calgary staff. Okay, he's got to calm down. Yep. Shane O'Brien in the doorway with his gear off.

And this is not over yet, Kelly. Again, this all started with the opening faceoff of this game when Calgary started their fourth line, and the Canucks responded with theirs, and we had a full line brawl. There's Glenn Gullickson. You can't see him now. He was in the screen, the assistant coach for Vancouver,

trying to get John Tortorella out of there. Torts coming down all the way across, coming down the hallway. It was crazy. We have to wrap this up, but I, I can't wrap it up. What do you,

did you see him? Did you see anyone get in the room? Like you're in the room. What happened? So we're, we're getting in the room and, uh, like it was just like,

we're all, you're in a big pile and you're getting pressed back and forth. And I think it was, I don't know if it was McGrattan or somebody like was holding basically back. Like torch was trying to get in the room at Bob I guess at that point are you concerned at all about any kind of supplemental discipline for going into the Calgary hallway I have no idea what's going to happen can you just explain what you were no no I'm not I'm not speaking on that Elliot no I'm not that I'm not going to go there but cross a line I'm not going to go there. I'm not going to go there.

Please, don't push me here. I'll answer your questions. I've tried to be as honest as possible with that, but I'm not going to go into the other stuff. It was just like we were in a big scrum going back and forth and you're trying to get a look at who's there, who's there. After the game, you find out it was Torts coming down.

Hockey Day in Canada, the spirit of hockey. That was fantastic. This has been great. Continued success and a, I guess, pre-congratulations on breaking the shot block record. All right. Thank you. Appreciate it, guys.

And that's Mark Giordano with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Really hope you enjoyed that. Taking us out today is a six-piece musical collective from a small, sleepy Welsh town. CBC, or Church Village Collective, are influenced by Snoop Dogg, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and the

Red Hot Chili Peppers. The group finds melodies in the most unique pockets and live by one universal message, peace and love and good times, stay real, stay true, and that's it. Why do I feel like Casey Kasem when I say that? From their 2022 debut record, Get Real,

here's CBC with Music Stuff on 32 Thoughts, the podcast. You know what follows me the whole night Smoking all the limelight Taking me the whole night Oh, yeah Said I don't mind what do you mean But everybody wants to know my name Can't you see me hanging on the phone Won Won't you like to come over, give me some more? I said, out of mind, what do you mean? But everybody wants to know my name Won't you take a seat for a while? Won't you like to come and meet a friend of mine?

I said, out of mind, what do you mean do But everybody wants to know my name Everybody wants to know my name Bye.