Sam Girard

Lore & Background

Girard began playing ice hockey at age four and played minor hockey in Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. He was drafted third overall by the Shawinigan Cataractes in the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft. In his rookie QMJHL season, he recorded 43 points in 64 games and won the Raymond Lagacé Trophy as Defensive Rookie of the Year. The following season, he recorded a career-high 74 points in 64 games and earned the Emile Bouchard Trophy as QMJHL Defenceman of the Year, the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as most sportsmanlike player, and CHL Sportsman of the Year.

After being drafted by Nashville, Girard made his NHL debut on October 10, 2017, and scored his first NHL goal in his second game. He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on November 5, 2017, as part of a three-team deal. With the Avalanche, he improved his on-ice success, recording career-high numbers in his first three seasons. During the 2019–20 season, Girard joined fellow defenceman Cale Makar in the 30 points club, making the Avalanche the first team with multiple defencemen under age 22 with at least 30 points since 1993–94. He signed a seven-year, $35 million contract extension with the Avalanche on July 31, 2019.

Reader's Guide

Girard's significance with the Colorado Avalanche lies in his steady development into a reliable defenceman who contributed to the team's Stanley Cup championship in 2022. After being traded from Nashville early in his rookie season, he quickly became a regular in the Avalanche lineup, playing top-pairing minutes in his debut and eventually forming part of a young defensive core. His ability to reach 30 points alongside Cale Makar during the 2019–20 season highlighted the Avalanche's exceptional young defensive talent, a feat not seen in the NHL since the 1993–94 season. Girard's iron man streak, which tied Karlis Skrastins for the second-longest in team history, demonstrated his durability. His legacy includes being part of a trade that sent Kyle Turris to Nashville, and he remained with the Avalanche until being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2026. His career with Colorado spanned parts of nine seasons and culminated in winning the Stanley Cup.

Did You Know?

• Girard was born in Roberval, Quebec, and his uncle Guy Larouche was the mayor of Roberval.
• Girard scored his first NHL goal in his second career game, against the Dallas Stars.
• He won a gold medal with Canada at the 2015 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.