Concern mounts in Colorado as Avalanche edge closer to a franchise-altering mistake
Photo credit: Ron Chenoy / USA TODAY Sports
Concern is growing in Colorado as the Avalanche move closer to what could be a franchise-altering decision, fuelled by ongoing trade rumours surrounding star veteran defenseman Samuel Girard.
Trade rumours surrounding Girard don't add up for the Avalanche, considering the team's current salary cap constraints and competitive standing.
Avalanche can't afford to lose Samuel Girard.
Nestor Quixtan from Mile High Sticking writes that ongoing trade rumours about Girard don't seem to align with the Avalanche's best interests. There's little justification to move him unless it's purely for cap relief.
Beyond that, it's hard to imagine what return the Avalanche could get that would truly make trading Girard worthwhile.
Some might nitpick Girard's dip in production as a sign it's time for a change, while others could highlight his injury history as a potential red flag for the future.
"While those arguments may seem valid on the surface, they're weak at best. Girard is still a solid top-four defenseman. He's not the most gifted offensive blue liner in the game. But then again, he doesn't have to be as long as Cale Makar is on the team." -Quixtan
Online buzz, especially fuelled by Avalanche insider Aarif Deen, has intensified speculation that the Avalanche remain interested in moving on from Girard.
"The chatter, unfortunately, does not provide a solid reason for moving Samuel Girard. Yes, he's got a reasonable cap hit, which could entice other teams to make a move. But trading Girard will not land a major piece. Such a trade would not yield a top-six forward or a major prospect haul." -Quixtan
The reality is the Avalanche would need to practically give Girard away just to unload his contract, a move that would not only be bad business for Colorado, but also an unfair way to treat a loyal player.
"The bottom line is that Samuel Girard is still a valuable member of the Colorado Avalanche. There's no replacement for Girard, either in-house or outside the organization." -Quixtan
A perfect example is Ryan Lindgren. He couldn't stepped in as a suitable replacement for Girard, but the Avalanche let him walk in free agency. If the intention was to move on from Girard, it would've made more sense to trade him and use the cap space to retain Lindgren instead.
That's not how things played out, suggesting the organization remains committed to both Girard and Josh Manson.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 4 | 36 ANSWERS Concern mounts in Colorado as Avalanche edge closer to a franchise-altering mistake Will Avalanche veteran defenseman Samuel Girard start the upcoming NHL season in Colorado? | ||
| yes | 26 | 72.2 % |
| no | 10 | 27.8 % |
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