Colorado Avalanche's Top Trade Candidate This Season

The Colorado Avalanche have their core locked up and are planning on competing for the Stanley Cup once again this season. When everyone is healthy, they don't have a ton of cap space to work with. Gabriel Landeskog is nearing a return and though the team will look a lot better, they still need a second line centre.

In order to acquire what they need, likely a rental, they will have to move some money out. That money is going to come from the defence, particularly Samuel Girard. The Avalanche have five top-four defencemen when healthy and Girard has not produced anywhere close to what he has in the past. He is locked up for four more years at $5 million AAV but is just 24 years old. His age and past production alone will entice teams to want to take a chance on him.

The Avalanche's defence is full and someone who shouldn't be playing on the third pairing generally is. Moving Girard will also free up the cap space that will be required to re-sign Bowen Byram at the end of the season as he is a RFA. It will also open the door to potentially being able to bring back Devon Toews the offseason after that.

Girard has just one goal and five points in 25 games and is playing over 20 minutes a night. He is a strong skater and very quick. He would strengthen a number of teams' defence and has the potential to put up lots of points with a change in scenery. Seeing as his modified no-trade clause doesn't kick in yet, it is the easier time to trade him.