Pass. With Luke coming up and Siegenthaler extended, our top 4 LD is fine. I would absolutely be comfortable giving Luke top 4 minutes the moment he signs.

Injury history? Covid and a broken sternum are one offs.

If it was in the off season, I could see something involving Mercer being the ask.

it depends. If avs trade for a young middle 6/2C option else where. Then the avs would probbaly look for future type of package for G to save on the cap

if avs use G to gain that young middle 6/2c option, then they would probably look for a hockey swap for him.

Girard availability is questionable. I think Colorado would listen to offers, but I think it will take not only a very good offer, but also the right offer, for them to pull the trigger.

Girard and Graves are very different players. If you’re trying to swap them one for one, you’re going to have a weird fit.

I wouldn’t mind that as well. I think it really depends whether Hughes can make that impact now or if they’re going to be growing pains. I believe there will be growing pains transitioning into the NHL. I don’t doubt Hughes will be a #1 defensemen in the future, but adding Girard gives this team more depth and allows for our young defensemen to make mistakes. Being able to partner Girard with Marino or Nemec would give our coaching staff a lot of versatility.

Girard is a two-way puck moving defenseman. Has a much more similar style of play to Severson, but better, younger and on a friendlier contract.

Agreed. I would think Girard would be most likely be involved in a hockey trade scenario or a pick that can be flipped for a 2C in a separate deal and a young replacement. It’s a tough decision for the Avs because one of Toews, Girard or Byram will need to be moved in the near future.

Definitely an offseason move. Trading Girard now would be silly. I find it very unlikely Mercer is a part of any trade. He’s pretty untouchable imo.

It’s much more likely you get a return in between the Marino to NJ trade and Trouba to NYR trade.

Maybe, but maybe not. The Avs FO is pretty smart. Manson's trade protection opens up after next year, so they can move him to pay for Toews if they choose to do so.

Byram is the big wild card. If he stays healthy and plays up to his potential, then he'll be due a big contract in a few years. That might mean one of Toews or Girard goes. We'll see though. I'm hoping the cap rises enough that the team can keep their big 4 of Makar, Toews, Byram, and Girard, but it may not be in the cards. But I do think they have a bit of time before making that call

Girard will get(if he's moved) a bigger return than Ty Smith(an ahl bound offensive dman who struggles with other aspects of the game) and a 3rd. Avs basically got that for Martin Kaut.
I would have no issue with the Trouba return

That’s why I said in between. You’re not as cap strapped as the Pens were. There’s flexibility in who you can move and internal valuation to Girard that has to be accounted for. No one forgot how adamant that Avs were in prying Girard away from the Preds. Yea he’s had a bit of a down year, but the Avs are still high on him. You’d need to give to get.

When it came to Marino, I’ll be honest but the Pens dangled him like a bag of rocks. Deservingly, they got the return of a bag of rocks, for now.

Available at the right price I would say, and 'injury history' shouldn't be a worry. The sternum was a freak thing, covid was/is covid, and for a good while he was the Avs iron man. Hockey trade for a 2C or if the Avs have found one without trading Sammy G then futures probably in the off season.