3 Avalanche Players With the Most to Prove in 2024-25 – The Hockey Writers – Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche did not add many external reinforcements during the first, and busiest, part of the 2024 NHL offseason. A pair of defensemen in 33-year-old Calvin de Haan (one year, $800,000) and 24-year-old Erik Brannstrom (one year, $900,000) were the most notable additions outside of re-signing Jonathan Drouin (one year, $2.5 million) and Casey Mittelstadt (three year, $5.75 million average annual value – AAV) to new deals.

The front office’s activity or lack thereof speaks to a level of confidence in their current crop of players, superstars or otherwise. If the Avalanche are to return to the pinnacle of the Stanley Cup mountain in 2024-25, these three players in particular must have a bounce-back campaign and perform to the levels expected of individuals commanding their respective cap hits. If they fail to do so, their NHL futures may reside outside of Colorado. With that, let’s dive in.

Samuel Girard, Defenseman

59 games played (GP) – 3 Goals (G) – 15 Assists (A) – 18 Points (PTS) – 19:23 Average Time on Ice (ATOI)

Before delving into his performance, it would be unfair to note that Samuel Girard spent time in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program last season, something that would undoubtedly affect his play on the ice.

With that context in mind, Girard submitted a disappointing season by his standards as a defenseman earning $5 million annually against the cap. His three goals, 15 assists, and 18 points all set or tied career-lows in his single-season production and trade rumours have stirred up debate as to how the Avalanche could allocate his cap hit more effectively around the roster.

Girard’s performance is integral to the Avalanche’s on-ice fortunes as their most utilized defender beyond the top pair of Devon Toews and Cale Makar. He’s ranked fourth in average ice time over the past two seasons, moving up to third last season following the Bowen Byram for Mittelstadt trade at the trade deadline.

Detractors have pointed to Girard’s slight frame and defensive shortcomings as reasons to make a change, especially as physicality becomes a more notable variable during the playoffs. He played an important role during Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup run when healthy and continues to be a large part of their success. The rising salary cap means his cap hit becomes less of a hindrance…