On Saturday, the Flames' all-the-whistles-and-bells charter departed for Chicago to open a two-game road junket with many of their dads aboard for the ride.
"You're living a dream, too," says Paul. "I follow every game. After games he calls me. Almost every one. It's been like that since he came into the league. He's never satisfied. He calls, I say: 'Mark, you've got 24 points in 25 games.' And he says: 'But dad, I've gotta get some goals. I've gotta get some goals.' And I tell him: 'Mark, the goals will come. You're playing fantastic.'
"I'm a parent. I encourage my kids.
"Where he came from, after playing for Owen Sound, you appreciate this that much more. You remember back … his going to Moscow at 20, 21 years old … you don't think much about it then. Later, you understand: 'That took a lot of courage.'
"You appreciate him as a man."
Old-school values have always been of vital importance in the Giordano household. They've been passed on to the son.
"My favourite player growing up," says Paul, "was Gordie Howe. He was humble. A beautiful person. Reading up on him, (his signing bonus) was a jacket, back in 1948 from the Detroit Red Wings.
"Like I said, humble guy.
"Bobby Orr, best defenceman ever in my opinion, same thing.
"I look at qualities. I'm nobody to judge, but these people who have humility and they give back, they're the ones I admire.
"I love people like that."
A superb opening to this season has Giordano the Younger in the early chatter for viable Norris Trophy candidates.
Payback, perhaps, for 2015, when he seemed destined to at least be finalist only to be ruled out after 61 games due to injury.
"The year he tore his bicep … well, I'm biased, naturally, but I feel he would've won it that year," says Paul. "He had 48 points.
"It would be great, if he could do it this year. That and if we can win the Cup before he retires, would be really cool."
The next four days are a business trip, certainly, but Papa Gio, all the Flames dads for that matter, are going to relish each other's company.
"I get emotional talking about him because I'm so proud of him, of what he's accomplished as a man, giving back to charity the way he does," Paul admits.
"He and Lauren are really good people. We appreciate them.
"You thank God. I feel so blessed.
"Mark doesn't forget. He knows where he came from. He appreciates everything. My daughter's the same way. Family is so important.
"As a father, all you want for your kids is that they're happy and they're healthy, the rest will take care of itself.
"He's a good player, which I'm very happy about, but he's a good person, too, which is even more important.
"That's why I'm looking forward to this week, and being with him. It's beautiful."
