Girard built up to be the next Duncan Keith
By Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
Barring injury, expect Sam Girard to be in the Avalanche lineup Sunday and begin to burn the first year of his entry-level contract at the new Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
On Saturday at Bridgestone Arena, Girard’s former coach and new coach explained why the 162-pound teenage defenseman belongs in the NHL. The combined praise of Girard, 19, tells me that both men believe the player could become the next Duncan Keith, a three-time Stanley Cupwinning defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks who isn’t much bigger than Girard and plays a similar game.
“It’s just a matter of maturity,” said Nashville coach Peter Laviolette, who worked with Girard since he was selected by the Predators with the 47th pick of the 2016 draft. “He’s a smooth-skating, puckmoving defenseman. He can be a little bit slippery at times. He sees the ice real well. He’s going to be a good offensive player, I think, for a long time. With his size, physically being able to handle the players that he might play against, or the demands of preseason, regular season, then playoffs, it seemed that this year he was ready to take that jump.”
Make no mistake, Girard was traded to Colorado in the Nov. 4 three-team, megadeal because he was expendable in Nashville. He was not a top-four defenseman for the Preds, and he likely would have been returned to his junior team in Quebec before his 10th NHL game. Laviolette didn’t want to see Girard go, but the defending Western Conference champions needed a No. 2 center and got a good one from Ottawa in Kyle Turris.
“Sam was such a young player for us, in and out of the lineup because of his age,” Laviolette said. “We kept him here because we realized that he was a good player, and will be a good player, in the league. … You have to give up a good piece to get a player like Kyle Turris, and he was the piece.”
The Predators also sent 21-year-old center Vladislav Kamenev and a 2018 second-round draft pick to Colorado, which also collected a boatload of talent from Ottawa for disgruntled center Matt Duchene. If Girard is truly as good as seemingly everyone says he is — or will be — that acquisition in itself is a trade victory.
Avs coach Jared Bednar certainly thinks his team hit the jackpot, which is why Girard will play in his 10th NHL game Sunday and officially extinguish his celebrated junior career.
“I don’t think he’s going anywhere,” Bednar said at the Avalanche’s morning skate Saturday. “Based on what we’ve seen from him, we feel that he belongs. He can help us and will be a player who can develop in the National Hockey League.”
When asked to explain Girard’s strengths, or gifts, Bednar sounded like he was talking about the Blackhawks’ Keith.
“Intelligent player, slick with the puck, good feet, good hands, high hockey IQ ,” Bednar said of Girard. “He brings a unique mix of talent, and to be able to do it at his size is really impressive. He’s only going to get better.”
Girard lived out of a hotel in Nashville. And when he was in Denver after the trade, he stayed in a hotel. By Sunday morning, he will be given the green light to find a place to buy or rent in Denver.
“They are waiting until after the game tonight,” Girard said Saturday. “They have a decision to make after the game. So we will see then.
Girard has fond memories of Nashville, even though he played only five regularseason games for the team. He participated in two training camps and most preseason games over two seasons.
“I had a good time here, with the other side,” Girard said. “Very good organization, and they really take care of their players. It’s fun to be here, to play against my old team. But I’m pretty happy to play with the Avs and pretty excited for the game (Saturday).”
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or @mikechambers