Sam Girard’s Colorado chapter lasted nearly eight years, and it left a mark that goes well beyond the games he played.
The former Avalanche defenseman arrived at 19 in the November 2017 trade that sent Matt Duchene to Ottawa, and he quickly became a steady presence on the blue line. His time in Denver included the biggest prize of all: a Stanley Cup in 2022.
That run also came with a brutal setback, as Girard broke his sternum after a hit from Ivan Barbashev in Game 3 against St. Louis and missed much of the rest of the playoffs before still being part of the team that brought the Cup home.
But the story of those years wasn’t only about hockey. Girard has also opened up about dealing with depression, anxiety and alcohol struggles. In November 2023, he entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, and since then he has talked about how much better life has become.
“I Feel Like I Like My Life Again”
That’s the heart of where Girard says he is now: after fighting through alcoholism and rebuilding his life, he’s reflecting on fatherhood, happiness and the bond he still feels with Colorado.
He also left a strong impression inside the Avalanche room. Nathan MacKinnon spoke warmly about him after the trade.
“He’s such a good guy. It sucks losing good people (to a trade) like that. He’s a great teammate,” MacKinnon said, per Yohe.
Girard spent a lot of time in Colorado, won a Cup, made friends and built a life there. Now with Pittsburgh, he still appears to see Denver as home for him and his family.
In Other News...
Avalanche Suddenly Face A Brutal Question About MacKinnon And Makar
The Avalanches night against Ottawa took a sharp turn when Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar both exited with lower-body injuries, leaving Colorado to absorb a hit to two of its most important players at once. MacKinnon was hurt while trying to check Artem Zub and eventually had to leave the bench, while Makar went out earlier, briefly came back for one shift and was then ruled out.
For a team that leans so heavily on both stars, the timing makes the concern obvious. Colorado can usually survive a rough stretch because MacKinnon drives the attack and Makar anchors the back end, but losing either one changes the look of the lineup fast. Losing both in the same game raises an even bigger question about how the Avalanche handle the next stretch if the injuries linger. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Suddenly Face A Brutal Problem After MacKinnon And Makar Exit
The Avalanche were already in a tricky spot against Ottawa, and the second period made it much worse when Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar both exited after sustaining injuries. Makar went down while retrieving the puck without contact, while MacKinnon was hurt in a scuffle with Artum Zub, leaving Colorado suddenly scrambling for answers in the middle of a game it could not afford to lose control of.
With Josh Manson also unavailable, the Avalanche may have to reach into their depth chart for help, with Noah Juulsen and Alex Gagne among the names that could be called up. For a team built around elite pace and high-end skill, the possibility of being without two of its biggest drivers is a stark reminder of how quickly a night can change, and how thin the margin becomes when the blue line and top six are both under pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Suddenly Face A Real Test Without Nathan MacKinnon
Nathan MacKinnons lower-body injury has put the Avalanche in an uncomfortable spot at a time when they were already leaning heavily on their top center to drive the offense. He left the game in the second period and did not return, and Colorado moved quickly to bring up Gavin Brindley from the AHLs Colorado Eagles as a short-term answer. Brindley has already been shuttled up and down multiple times this season, so this is not unfamiliar territory for him.
What changes now is the burden on everyone else. MacKinnons absence strips away the teams most reliable source of pace and production, and Brindley is being asked to help fill some of that gap with offense of his own. For a club that has built so much of its identity around MacKinnon setting the tone, the immediate question is how long Colorado can keep its game intact while waiting for more clarity on his status. [Read more 🡒]