Peters puts positive spin on Giordano’s all-star snub

There is a silver lining to the fact that Mark Giordano was left off the National Hockey League All-Star roster.

“He can’t get hurt,” quipped Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters.

Named the NHL’s first star for last week partly on the basis of eight points in four games, the Flames’ 35-year-old defenceman is having what so far has been a banner season for him and the team.

Heading into Tuesday ’s NHL action, Giordano’s nine goals and 38 assists in 45 games were tied with Toronto’s Morgan Rielly for second in league scoring among defenceman. Although he won’t be attending the 2019 NHL All-Star festivities in San Jose, he figures to be a strong candidate for the Norris Trophy with his plus-36 ranking tops among all players in the NHL.

On Tuesday, Peters was asked where the Flames’ captain ranks in his own personal books of topend players.

“He’s right there,” he said. “He probably flew under the radar a little bit over the years. But he’s had lots of good years. The year he tore his biceps, he was having a fantastic year. He’s having another fantastic year right now. As impressive as he was the other night (Sunday’s 7-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes), the one thing I took out of it was he was a plus-five. That’s hard to do. You know you’re putting yourself in good situations offensively and defensively when you do that.”