Avs evaluate life after Sam Girard as trade debate and replacements are outlined
Recent installments examining life after the Avalanche’s blue-line question argue sam girard could be moved and lay out three clear replacement avenues, highlighting why the club may not re-sign him and which options could fill his role on a short or longer timeline.
Why a trade could be likely
The coverage makes a central point: the club must first answer whether it will re-sign Samuel Girard. If the answer is no, the team faces decisions about his trade value, roster fit and how to replace him. A driving factor noted is the timing of other significant contract decisions; the narrative holds that the organization will not re-sign Girard ahead of resolving a separate looming contract situation for another top defenseman. Recent internal signings for other rearguards are cited as evidence the club does not plan to keep Girard long-term unless he accepts a substantial pay cut, a scenario described as unlikely but not impossible.
Sam Girard: contract value and trade leverage
The analysis states Girard remains under contract for the balance of this season and the entirety of next season at a $5 million average annual value. That structure is characterized as an asset: a player in his prime on a team-friendly deal and with term can attract significant interest on the market. The series argues middle-pairing defensemen with similar contracts often yield meaningful returns at the Deadline, giving the club leverage to bolster its prospect pipeline or draft capital if it opts to move him.
Replacement paths the club can pursue
The reporting lays out three practical courses of action if Girard is traded: call up a prospect from the Eagles to fill the slot internally; execute a trade to acquire a roster-ready replacement; or pursue outside help in free agency in the offseason. The pieces note these approaches are not mutually exclusive—the club could use a short-term call-up while pursuing a trade or a free-agent signing for the following season. The offseason free-agent window is singled out as a pivotal moment, with several targets described as potentially available when that window opens on July 1, provided they are not signed elsewhere before then.
Potential targets and recent trade context
Among outside options discussed are lower-cost veteran rearguards who could slot into a third-pair or seventh-defenseman role and offer penalty-kill value. Specific names called out include a former top draft selection whose recent stint with another club has been described as forgettable but who could be a reclamation project, and a familiar veteran who could return on a one-year deal to provide depth, grit and experience while giving prospects occasional NHL ice time.
To illustrate the market for middle-pair defensemen, several recent Deadline trades are cited where teams exchanged defensemen for prospects and draft capital. Examples highlighted include transactions that moved roster defensemen in exchange for combinations of draft picks and prospects, underscoring that a team trading a middle-pair blueliner can reasonably expect to receive a meaningful haul.
Key takeaways
- Decision hinges on whether the club will re-sign sam girard; uncertainty drives trade discussion.
- Girard’s $5 million AAV and remaining term make him a valuable Deadline asset.
- The club’s practical replacements: Eagles call-up, trade for a roster-ready rearguard, or an offseason signing when free agency opens on July 1.
Looking ahead, the narrative frames the next steps as conditional and calendar-driven: if the club opts not to re-sign Girard, Deadline and offseason windows provide distinct opportunities to reshape the blue line—either by promoting from within, leveraging Girard’s contract value in trade, or pursuing bargain veteran additions in free agency. Specific outcomes will depend on how those roster and contract conversations unfold before the relevant transaction windows open.
