The Boston Bruins could take advantage of a potential cap crunch that might befall the Colorado Avalanche. In particular, the Avalanche could be forced to move an expensive veteran D-man to clear cap space for upgrades.
That situation could lead the Avalanche to move Samuel Girard. The 27-year-old defender has been the subject of trade speculation for the past couple of seasons. But the chatter surrounding a trade involving Girard picked up somewhat this summer.
So, that opens up an opportunity for the Bruins to land a top-four defenseman at a relatively low price. Considering the Avalanche wouldn’t be taking any salary back, the Bruins could get Girard for pennies on his actual market value.
Here’s a look at what this trade proposal could look like:
Bruins get:
Samuel Girard, D
2026 fifth-round pick
Avalanche get:
2026 fourth-round pick
2027 second-round pick
In essence, the Bruins would be getting Girard for two draft picks. The Bruins have two fourth-rounders in the 2026 NHL Draft, their own and the Tampa Bay Lightning’s. The Avalanche might prefer the Bruins’ own pick.
The 2027 second-rounder could be a toss-up. If the Bruins have a great season in 2026-27, that second-rounder could be closer to the third round. If the Bruins have a bad season, that pick could be closer to a late first-round pick.
Nevertheless, the Avalanche would do well to collect a third second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, as it could allow them to use it as part of another trade down the road.
Why Samuel Girard Makes Sense for Boston Bruins
As it stands, the Bruins have some question marks on the blue line. First of all, the team’s top pairing of Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy will be coming off injuries. The expectation is that both will be fully healthy for training camp. But that’s not a certainty at this point.
That situation also leaves the Bruins’ middle pairing at Nikita Zadorov and Henri Jokiharju. Zadorov is fine, but Jokiharju might be another question mark. So, that’s where the Bruins could benefit from adding Girard.
Girard could solidify that middle pairing, especially if Jokiharju doesn’t quite live up to expectations. Moreover, if Lindholm or McAvoy have lingering health issues, Girard could step up to the top pairing.
The Downside to Acquiring Girard
Like all trades, there’s a downside to trading for Samuel Girard. While Girard has been a solid presence for the Colorado Avalanche over the last couple of seasons, injuries and declining production could play a role in his ability to contribute.
Girard had an injury-filled 2023-24 season in which he was limited to 59 games. Last season, Girard missed some time, ultimately appearing in 73 games.
Additionally, his declining production might be a concern. Girard posted a career-high 37 points in 2022-23, but has, since then, seen a drop to 18 in 2023-24, and 24 last season. He’s still a solid puck-moving defenseman, but he’s not a significant offensive force. That situation might turn the Bruins off, especially if the plan is to add an offensive-minded blue liner.
Despite the downside, the Bruins could do well to take a chance on Samuel Girard. He’s got two years remaining on his current contract at $5 million AAV. So, it might not be the craziest idea in the world to explore a trade for the veteran blue liner.
