Samuel Girard

With three days ticking down to the 2026 NHL trade deadline, GMs scramble as rumors swirl around big names like Steven Stamkos and Nazem Kadri. Colorado clears cap space by flipping Samuel Girard for Brett Kulak, but whispers persist about bigger splashes before Friday's chaos hits. Front offices know one wrong move could derail a Cup run, and players with no-movement clauses hold all the cards in this high-stakes poker game.

The Penguins cling to playoff hopes, but their defense has turned into a sieve, coughing up over four goals a game in recent outings against teams like the Hurricanes and Sabres. GM Kyle Dubas watches helplessly as Kris Letang slumps with a minus-11 tag since that regrettable Girard trade, while the second pairing ranks among the league's worst in expected goals against.

An Avalanche icon unleashes a side-splitting reaction to the Samuel Girard trade that has Colorado fans buzzing and rivals smirking. The move reshapes the blueline in ways few saw coming after Girard's steady presence in Denver. As the Avs chase another Cup run, this legend's take cuts right to the heart of what the blockbuster means for playoff contention.

Brett Kulak slots right into the Avalanche blue line like he never left, delivering 19 rock-solid minutes in his debut that steadied Colorado's game against Utah and earned Jared Bednar's quick nod of approval. The veteran, fresh off a deadline swap from Pittsburgh for Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-rounder, pairs seamlessly with guys like Sam Malinski and brings the penalty-kill bite the Avs craved after Girard's injury-plagued drop in ice time.

The Avalanche just shipped out Sam Girard and a pile of future picks, including their 2027 first, to load up on proven talent like Brock Nelson and Brett Kulak. GM Joe Sakic stares down a barren draft cupboard through 2026 with no picks in the first three rounds, betting everything on this core's Cup window.