NHL Trades: Avalanche Pay Up for Cap Dump

The Colorado Avalanche and Pittsburgh Penguins pulled off one of many NHL trades to come on Tuesday. The clubs swapped defensemen in a seemingly under-the-radar move. But there’s quite a bit to unpack in that deal.

The Avalanche jettisoned Samuel Girard to the Penguins, along with a 2028 second-round pick, in exchange for veteran blueliner Brett Kulak.

While neither player is a superstar, this move could be one of the most interesting NHL trades fans will see this season. The Penguins cashed in on the Avalanche’s need to clear cap space. Colorado has been up against the cap all season. And with Girard becoming expendable, the club dumped his contract on the Penguins.

Meanwhile, the Penguins were savvy in picking up a second-round pick for their troubles. Girard has one more season left on his current contract, carrying a $5 million cap hit. It was that cap hit that got in the way of the Avalanche making additional moves at the NHL trade deadline this season.

It’s evident that a second-round pick was a hefty price to pay for a camp dump. But then again, the Penguins have been savvy when making NHL trades. So, it shouldn’t surprise fans to see Pittsburgh take advantage of the Avalanche’s need to clear cap space.

Penguins Get Solid Puck-Moving Defenseman

It’s also worth noting that Tuesday’s trade wasn’t the Penguins taking a toxic contract off the Avalanche’s hands. The Pens actually got a solid puck-moving defenseman in Samuel Girard. It’s easy to forget about Girard in a blue line that features Devon Toews, Cale Makar, and Brent Burns.

That’s why Girard became a pricey depth defensive piece. Girard’s cap hit forced one of the latest NHL trades. It was clear that Colorado needed to move on from the 27-year-old amid the glut of high-end blueliners.

In contrast, the Penguins could use another mobile defenseman behind Erik Karlsson. Girard projects to slide in alongside Kris Letang on the Penguins’ middle-pairing. That move will make the club’s blue line much more mobile, particularly with Letang getting long in the tooth.

Avalanche Will Be Looking to Make Other NHL Trades

As for the Avalanche, the team will be looking to make additional NHL trades. The club could be looking to add another depth defenseman and a depth forward. There has been chatter about the Avalanche checking in on Evander Kane of the Vancouver Canucks and Bobby McMann of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

That’s why Colorado needed to clear cap space. Adding Kane, in particular, would be tough as his cap hit would be tough to fit in without retention. While McMann’s cap hit is reasonably low, the Avalanche would still need to clear space to add more than one piece at the NHL trade deadline.

As such, Tuesday’s deal could be one of several NHL trades the Avalanche could pull off leading up to the March 6 deadline. While the club is currently the best in the NHL, it slowed down from its mind-shocking pace in the first half of the season. So, bringing in some reinforcements will help give the club a shot in the arm.

Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan