'WE'VE ALL STEPPED UP'

This?
It was no small task.
In fact, it was one of the biggest question marks entering the new season - a colossal endeavour, leaving many in hockey pondering how it could possibly be pulled off.

How DO you replace your No.-1 defenceman? Your captain? An absolute gentleman that meant so much to the Flames and city of Calgary?
The truth is … You don't.
But you can come together and help the fill the void - the chasm - left by the former Norris winner by stepping up and tugging on that rope, as one.
"When you lose a guy like Gio, everyone has to step up in different aspects of the game," said Noah Hanifin, who is one of three Flames blueliners under 25 that have had an immense impact this year. "It's definitely a tough challenge because he played a lot of big minutes and played in huge situations.
"Being under him the last few years, I think the younger guys learned a lot and you learn how to play in those situations, and you don't get to that point unless you have a guy like Gio leading you.
"I think that, for us, we've all stepped up in different ways, we've all contributed in different ways, and that's what's made us a solid D core."
It's a bittersweet topic for the Flames, who enter the night on a season-long eight-game winning streak, and sit first place in the Pacific, 15 games over .500.

They've done their part and have helped turn the page after 15 years of the undrafted warrior cementing his legacy in this barn.
But the effect this man had on the franchise is immeasurable.
And they miss him.
"He meant a lot to everyone here," said Mikael Backlund, who will climb into the Top 5 in all-time games played with the Flames tonight, with his 792nd career appearance. Only Jarome Iginla, Giordano, Robyn Regehr and Al MacInnis have logged more regular-season appearances in Flames silks.
"Such a great person and player. "You can't ask for a better captain, so I'm excited to play against him tonight. But at the same time, I wish we were still teammates.
"When I got here, he was already one of the best defencemen we had. He was playing the same style of game he still is. Jarome, Reggie and a couple other guys - they were great captains, leaders. They showed the right way for Gio and myself, and then Gio going into that role was a natural choice when Iggy left.
"I think Gio's a humble guy who worked so hard his whole career to be where he's at, closing in on 1,000 games. He works so hard every day and you could tell, right from the first day he got here, on and off the ice, how hard he worked.
"Just a tremendous person."
That impenetrable work ethic is what set 'Gio' apart. He went undrafted throughout his career, took a chance on himself, believed in the process and never took a day in this league for granted.
It's clear, now, that those lessons are now permanent features in the Flames locker-room.
No one took the 'easy way' out when the business side of the game took hold, and No. 5 was taken by the Kraken in the Seattle Expansion Draft.
Instead, the players recognized the opportunity in front of them, grabbed the torch and ran with it.
Players like Hanifin, Oliver Kylington and Rasmus Andersson have been exceptional in elevated roles this year, and have helped deliver some of the stingiest defensive numbers in the league. That, in addition to the improved offensive production, has transformed the look of this team.
And they wouldn't have got here without learning from the best.
"It's all about his work ethic," Hanifin said. "He never stopped believing in himself.
"He's always been an underdog - he's had that mentality that's made him such a competitive guy throughout this whole career. He's gotten better and better and better, and he's never stopped trying to improve. He won a Norris when he was 35 and was always a huge part of this team.
"Just shows that if you put the work in, anything can happen."
Giordano - who still owns a house here in the Stampede City - will take his 994th career twirl tonight. He has 530 points (147G, 383A) in that span, and as captain of the Serpents now, is still playing at a high level, despite that '83 birthday, with an average of 21:32 per game in ice time.
Last year, he skated in all 56 games with the Flames and won the inaugural Clayton H. Riddell Award as the team's top rearguard only two years removed from the Norris.
So, no, there's no indication that the skipper is losing a step.
And that, the players all say, is what makes him such an inspirational figure.
"When I came here, I was pretty young," Hanifin said. "Mark was the first defenceman that I was able to look up to and learn from. He's a veteran defenceman, has had a great career and (with) his work ethic on and off the ice, he's THE example for every young defenceman coming into the league.
"Obviously, for some of our young defencemen this year, he's been a great role model for us; how you have to act, how you have to be as a player if you want to have an impact in this league.
"I was fortunate to be on the ice with him for the last couple years and like Backs said, guys certainly miss having him around.
"He's a great person and a great captain."
Flames fans will have a chance to salute Giordano tonight prior to puck drop tonight. It promises to be electric, so get to your seats early and enjoy the show.