2023 Offseason Trade Coming from the Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche will be busy this summer as they look to add another forward or two to their top two lines. General manager Chris MacFarland has some options when it comes to capital to move and there's little doubt when a deal goes down this offseason, Colorado will be moving one of their young defensemen to land some talent up front.

Recently, hockey insider Frank Seravalli mentioned Samuel Girard's name as a potential trade candidate. Girard is 25 years old, can play either the left or right side and is signed through the 2026-27 season at $5 million.

The Avs defenseman does not have much say in the matter as his no-trade protection doesn't kick in until July 1, 2024. This is when Girard will be able to block a trade to nine teams of his choice. Seravalli had this to say on Girard's situation in Denver:

You still have to allow for a possibility that they pivot and move Girard for better balance, as they have somewhere around $20 million in space to sign upwards of nine players. Girard would appear to be the odd-man out on the back end. Devon Toews makes a bigger overall impact; Bowen Byram is three years younger and has higher upside. Girard is a clear fourth among Avs defensemen in minutes played. All of that might mean for another team that he could do more with more opportunity. His contract is also a reminder you can never go wrong buying all of the prime years of a player’s career on a long-term deal.

Teams will center depth will be reaching out this summer. Look for a Girard deal to potentially go down as soon as the NHL Draft in a couple of weeks.

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