Watch above: Full press conference with Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano
CALGARY – The Calgary Flames will be playing without captain Mark Giordano for the remainder of the season.
The team learned their star defenceman would be out on Monday, due to a torn biceps tendon.
He suffered the injury during last Wednesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.
“Basically, what happened was I went to take a slap shot to clear the puck,” explained Giordano at a Tuesday news conference. “We were on the penalty kill at the end of the game, and one of their player’s sticks got sort of wedged in between my back and arm.”
Giordano says he knew as soon as he went down that something was wrong.
“You never know how bad it is, you’re hoping for the best obviously.”
The defenceman will undergo surgery, with an estimated recovery period of four months.
“I think surgery is probably my only option at this point,” he said. “Honestly, I just want to get this surgery over with, I want to get the rehab going.”
“You know, it happens… these are the things that can happen out there on a nightly basis.
When asked how he felt about fans and insiders suggesting the team wouldn’t be able to make the playoffs without him, Giordano said the team has never been about one guy.
“I disagree… I hate that it’s about that now. Hopefully that will die down quick in the next couple days.”
“You just look at our team, the way we’ve played all year, it’s been different guys stepping up on different nights.”
“We believe in this team.”
Giordano does admit it will be tough to watch the team continue with their push for the playoffs without him.
“The bottom line is you want to be on the ice.”
The Calgary Flames’ next game is against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday at 5 p.m. MST.
Calgary NHL trade deadline deals
The Flames traded forward Curtis Glencross to the Washington Capitals for second and third-round draft picks on Sunday, and traded Sven Baertschi to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday for another second-round draft pick.
WATCH: Calgary Herald sports reporter Kristen Odland joins Global Calgary with details on how the Calgary Flames handled the NHL trade deadline.
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