Sam Girard

Sam Girard
Girard during his time with the Avalanche on January 6, 2020
Born	(1998-05-12) May 12, 1998 (age 28) Roberval, Quebec
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	162 lb (73 kg; 11 st 8 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Pittsburgh Penguins Nashville Predators Colorado Avalanche
NHL draft	47th overall, 2016 Nashville Predators
Playing career	2017–present

Samuel Girard (born May 12, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche.

Girard is a one-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Avalanche in 2022.

Before playing in the NHL, Girard played three seasons with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He had a successful time with the Cataractes. He was named to the All-Rookie Team and also was awarded the Raymond Lagacé Trophy for Defensive Rookie of the Year.^[1] The next season, he was awarded the Emile Bouchard Trophy for being the QMJHL Defenseman of the Year, the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy for the league's most sportsmanlike player, and was also named the CHL Sportsman of the Year.^[2][3]

He was drafted 47th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2016 NHL entry draft.^[4] On September 29, Girard signed a three-year, $2.7 million entry-level contract to join the Predators.^[5] He returned to the Cataractes and after the season, he was immediately sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Milwaukee Admirals. On October 10, 2017, Girard made his NHL debut in a 6–5 win against the Philadelphia Flyers. During the game, Girard recorded his first NHL point, assisting on a Filip Forsberg goal.^[6] Two days later, he scored his first NHL goal against Ben Bishop in a 4–1 win against the Dallas Stars.^[7]

On November 5, 2017, the Predators traded Girard along with Vladislav Kamenev and a 2018 second-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Kyle Turris. This was a three-team trade which also included the Ottawa Senators. The Senators received Matt Duchene from the Avalanche and the Avalanche received Andrew Hammond, Shane Bowers and both a 2018 first- and third-round pick from the Senators.^[8]

He helped the team qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs but suffered an upper-body injury in Game 2 and missed the rest of the series. The Avalanche were eventually lost the series to Girard's former team, the Nashville Predators four games to two.^[9][10] On July 31, 2019, Girard signed a seven-year, $35 million contract to stay with the Avalanche.^[11] He helped the team during the Stanley Cup playoffs. The team defeated the Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, and Edmonton Oilers. During Game 3 against the Blues, Girard was checked by Ivan Barbashev and broke his sternum which knocked him out of the playoffs.^[12] The Avalanche went on to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning four games to two in the Final to win the Stanley Cup.^[13]

On February 24, 2026, the Avalanche traded Girard along with a 2028 second-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Brett Kulak.^[14]

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or ESPN.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database