yardbarker
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Saturday that veteran defenseman Samuel Girard has been placed on injured reserve. The 28-year-old suffered a lower-body injury during a 6-2 road defeat to the Vegas Golden Knights on October 17.
In his first full season with Pittsburgh, Girard has recorded one goal and six assists in nine games. The Penguins acquired him from the Colorado Avalanche in a trade on February 24.
A 2022 Stanley Cup champion with Colorado, Girard has accumulated 249 points (38 goals, 211 assists) in 617 career games across stints with the Nashville Predators, Avalanche, and Penguins.
To fill the roster spot, Pittsburgh recalled 24-year-old forward Avery Hayes from its AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Hayes made his NHL debut with Pittsburgh last season and registered five goals in 16 games.
Key Analysis
The loss of Girard, a reliable two-way defenseman, tests Pittsburgh's depth on the blue line. His absence could lead to increased minutes for other defensemen and may impact the team's transition game. The recall of Hayes adds forward depth, but the Penguins will need to adjust their defensive pairs to compensate for Girard's absence.
Originally reported by yardbarker.