The Penguins added another name to the injured reserve list Saturday, placing defenseman Sam Girard on IR and bringing up forward Avery Hayes from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Girard has been out since last Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Golden Knights, when he was hurt in the second period. As he raced back to try to stop a possible breakaway, Brett Howden tripped him and Girard went hard into the end boards. He headed to the locker room and did not return.
Since then, Pittsburgh had labeled him day-to-day, and he had not played. He did skate on his own before Thursday’s morning skate, but head coach Dan Muse didn’t have an update afterward. In Girard’s absence, defenseman Ilya Solovyov has stepped into the lineup.
The 28-year-old had been off to a strong start before the injury, piling up a goal and six assists in nine games while averaging 18:44 a night. But durability has been a recurring issue for him, including during his time in Colorado.
Girard is in the final season of a seven-year, $35MM contract with a $5MM cap hit and is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Pittsburgh landed him and a 2028 second-round pick from the Avalanche for Brett Kulak at last February’s trade deadline.
Hayes gives the Penguins another body up front at a time when injuries have thinned the group. Bryan Rust was placed on IR Thursday and is scheduled to be re-evaluated in about six weeks, while Ben Kindel also went on IR that day. Pittsburgh responded by recalling Rutger McGroarty.
Hayes has earned the opportunity. The 24-year-old leads Wilkes-Barre with five goals and nine points in six games and has recorded at least one point in every game so far this season.
He also produced 24 goals and 39 points in 42 AHL games last year. In the NHL, he has scored five times in 16 appearances, including two goals in his debut against the Sabres on Feb.
- The undrafted winger is in the second and final year of his entry-level deal, which carries an $830K cap hit, and he is on track for restricted free agency in July.
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