The Detroit Red Wings have one of the top defensemen in the league in Moritz Seider, but still need to add more talent to their roster.
Heavy.com has a trade idea that would see the Red Wings acquire Samuel Girard from the Colorado Avalanche in an intriguing move.
Red Wings acquire:
Avalanche acquire:
- Michael Rasmussen
- Erik Gustafsson
- 2026 third-round pick
The proposed deal makes sense for both teams as Detroit gets an upgrade on defense, while Colorado gets a bottom-six forward, an NHL defenseman to replace Girard, as well as a mid-round pick.
The Red Wings would acquire Girard, who’s entering the sixth year of his seven-year, $35 million deal. Girard would be a top-four defenseman for the Red Wings and help solidify the blue line. He would be a shutdown defender who can also add some offense to the backend. He recorded 3 goals and 21 assists for 24 points in 73 games last season.
In return, the Red Wings would give up a third-round pick as well as Rasmussen. Rasmussen was selected ninth overall in 2017, but he hasn’t lived up to expectations. He would be a bottom-six forward for the Avalanche and give them a secondary scorer. He recorded 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in 77 games. He’s entering the second year of his four-year, $12.8 million deal.
The Avalanche would also acquire Gustafsson, who can help replace Girard. Gustafsson is entering the final year of his two-year, $4 million deal. He recorded 2 goals and 16 assists for 18 points in 60 games.
Avalanche Open to Trading Girard
Girard has been an impact defenseman for the Avalanche for years, but his time in Colorado could be coming to an end.
His name has come up in trade talks this summer, as Colorado is right up against the cap. With that, Avalanche insider Aarif Deen of ColoradoHockeyNow named Girard a potential trade candidate.
“If they’re still trying to acquire a third high-priced defenseman to play big minutes, then Girard would probably be the first to go,” Deen wrote. “Josh Manson is locked up at just under $4 million for the foreseeable future already. So I can’t see Girard at $5 million also fitting in with three guys making more than him. Again, this is assuming they actually get someone else at a higher cap hit to play a larger role.”
Girard was acquired by Colorado in 2017 and has been a key defenseman since then. He helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.
Red Wings GM Open to Adding a Top-Four Defenseman
Detroit has had a quiet offseason, but the Red Wings may not be done.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, meanwhile, says adding a top-four defenseman is the biggest need for Detroit.
“We have plenty of cap space to do a lot of different things,” Yzerman said. “The most important thing is to find players that fit. What we could use right now is a defenseman, a top four, and preferably a right shot. But it doesn’t have to be a right shot because we can move these guys around a little bit, but that would be our biggest potential need.”
The Red Wings’ blue line is led by Seider and Ben Chiarot.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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