Mark Giordano Accepts Significant Role Within Maple Leafs Organization

41-year-old Mark Giordano was unable to secure a contract for the 2024-25 NHL season despite exploring his options, leading him to miss all of last season. Instead, the undrafted, Norris Trophy winner spent last season making appearances on network broadcasts as an analyst.

Whether or not he had initially planned or hoped to play this season is unknown, but he certainly looked like he could still be a seventh defenseman when he laced them up in August for the Hockey Night in Brampton charity game.

Over the weekend, speculation on Giordano's future with the Leafs increased as he was behind the bench coaching the Leafs' rookies in Montreal.

A formal announcement is expected shortly, but Leafs' GM Brad Treliving confirmed when speaking with the media at the opening day of training camp on Wednesday that Giordano will be joining the Leafs in developmental role, working primarily with the Toronto Marlies.

The statement by Treliving confirms that Giordano has decided to end his 19-year NHL career and pursue a new career path.

Over 19 seasons, Giordano played in 1,148 regular season games, tallying 158 goals and 577 points. He also finishes his career with the second-most blocked shots in the NHL since 2005-06 with 2164, a record that was his until March last season when he was surpassed by Marc-Edouard Vlasic.