Leafs’ Mark Giordano talks Toronto’s playoff chances, new clothing line

At first glance, when you walk into the new Atelier Munro store in Toronto you would think this striking photo on the wall of a man in a suit could be the next actor playing James Bond. But, if you follow the Toronto Maple Leafs you immediately would know that it is the team’s defenceman, Mark Giordano.

In May, Toronto native Giordano signed a two-year deal with his hometown team the Maple Leafs after being traded to the club in March by the Seattle Kraken. The 39-year-old spent most of his NHL playing career with the Calgary Flames but says he is living a childhood dream of playing for the Leafs.

One thing Giordano says he never could have imagined in his life is being the face of a men’s clothing line campaign. CityNews’ sports reporter Lindsay Dunn had the chance to speak with Giordano about being a part of the Amsterdam-based made-to-measure brand Atelier Munro for their first Canadian flagship store, how fashion has played a role in his life, and the Leafs season so far.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Lindsay Dunn (LD): Mark, it’s not everyday you get to see a larger-than-life photo of you that isn’t you wearing a hockey jersey. What has it been like for you to see your face on billboards around the city of you as ‘model Mark’?

Mark Giordano (MG): {laughs} It’s been a little bit weird, to be honest! Seeing yourself on signs and stuff like that has been an adjustment. Some of the guys on the team have seen the photos around town so they have been having some fun with me about it, a few jabs here and there. But it’s been really great. It’s been a pretty cool experience because I’m not a huge fashion guy but I am becoming one now and getting more and more into it.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mark Giordano modelling for Atelier Munro. (Photo courtesy of Atelier Munro)

LD: There are these great photos of you modelling around Toronto as well as a video. You took the crew to some really special spaces in the city for you personally. That must have been a bit of a surreal experience.

MG: The hardest part to me was to try and act natural when you’re on camera and it’s only you and you’re not talking or with someone else. It was easy though because like you said, we went around the city to places that were close to home for me such as my high school and places like that. It really showed another side of me that’s for sure.

LD: Do you remember the first suit you ever owned?

MG: Oh man, I mean, I don’t but I’m pretty sure it was like a hand-me-down from my dad or a relative. It’s funny how it has changed over the years. I think when I first started playing hockey and having to wear suits, it was like, you know, there weren’t any fitted suits or fitted shirts or anything like that. So you just look like you were wearing a big garbage bag on yourself.

But now fashion has become a big part of our game, as you know. And I think a lot of guys are expressing themselves that way. And I think I’m doing so as well this year and trying to try to get my image across to people when they see me walk into games.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mark Giordano. CITYNEWS

LD: When we talk about fashion and a piece of clothing, the Toronto Maple Leaf jersey is such a piece of Canadian history. Do you kind of remember the moment you were able to put it on as a member of the Leafs for the first time or just, in general, going into the locker and seeing your name on the back of the jersey?

MG: Oh, it’s awesome! I think every time you walk into that room and see the jerseys hanging honestly, you get that little bit of a chill. For me, especially being from Toronto and being a big fan growing up, I think it means a lot. I think anyone when you see our jersey, I would put it right up there against any sporting jersey. It’s a franchise with so much history.

LD: Well, I’m going to go there but you don’t have to answer this. There are some pretty “unique” jerseys out there, what team would you say has the worst jersey in the league? There definitely are some new questionable jerseys out there.

MG: Well with a lot of these third jerseys that are coming in or these reverse retros…. I’m going to have to say just from recent memory I did not like the Montreal … I might take heat for this but … the Montreal Canadiens in baby blue. It just didn’t feel right.

LD: When comes to the right ‘feel’ how do you feel your team is doing right now, I know the heat seemed to be on the team even just a few weeks ago.

MG: I think every year that happens. I’ve been on a lot of teams where at the start of the year it gets magnified, right? So every loss is so big and every win is. Maybe teams get too high and overconfident but I think we did a good job of staying pretty even keel. I think things weren’t going well for us at the start. We all knew that. But I think over the last couple of weeks we’ve really changed our game and solidified defensively and we knew as a team we can score goals. So I think slowly but surely we’re getting to how we know we can play.

LD: What is the potential that you see for this roster and team?

MG: Oh I think it’s our expectation to contend for the Stanley Cup. I think we don’t make any secret about it. That’s our goal. And we have the team to do it. We have the roster of the right players. So it’s a long journey, but looking forward to having a long playoff run.

You can watch Giordano and the Toronto Maple Leafs host the New Jersey Devils Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on Sportsnet.