When Mark Giordano of the Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a concussion during a game against the Arizona Coyotes after crashing into the boards, there were concerns about whether this could be his last game with the team due to his age and the seriousness of the injury.
After a period of recovery, Giordano returned to play with the team. However, the question arises about whether he will maintain a regular role in the lineup, especially with the recent additions of Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson to bolster the defense.
Key players like Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe, and Timothy Liljegren are likely to secure starting positions, while newcomers Lyubushkin and Edmundson bring a physical presence that will likely see them in the lineup regularly. This leaves players like T.J. Brodie, Simon Benoit, Conor Timmins, and Giordano vying for remaining spots in the lineup.
While Brodie has struggled this season, Benoit has been consistent but not outstanding, and Timmins has shown promise with his offensive contributions. Giordano, despite his age, has maintained decent stats during his games this season. His veteran experience and leadership could still prove valuable to the team, but his effectiveness may need to be monitored to prevent overuse.
In light of his experience, leadership, and the stats mentioned above, Giordano ought to be able to return to the Leafs lineup on a regular basis to maintain his status as a dependable back end player. By scoring in his first game back from injury, he undoubtedly sent a strong message about his desire to remain in the starting lineup.
To fully optimise his potential going into the playoffs, the Leafs would be prudent to keep an eye on his playing time and to give him rest days along the way. To maintain the Leafs assault at its peak on the days he takes a break, Timmins would be the perfect substitute. Regarding both Brodie and Benoit, they should be used more sparingly based on any potential injuries or load management for the back end down the stretch. (All stats from naturalstattrick.com)
