It’s an intriguing move for both sides and perhaps one that a team could come to regret if it doesn’t win a Stanley Cup this year (does that deserve a spoiler alert? Probably). But let’s get to it right away. As usual, we’ll be delivering trade grades for both sides of this one, plus a breakdown of the trade that fell:
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Details of the avalanche and penguin trade
AVALANCHE GET: D Brett Kulak
PENGUINS GET: D Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick
Commercial Avalanche Grade
Um… I’m not sure I fully understood this. Maybe the feeling was that the 27-year-old Girard isn’t the most assertive of blueliners, that Kulak would be the kind of defensive presence a Cup contender needs. So, from that perspective, I could understand it. Kulak has played a ton of minutes in the playoffs.
But the cost! That’s a LOT to give up for a veteran D-man with an expiring contract. If the Avalanche win a title with Kulak contributing big minutes, I’ll check this one out. For now? Well. GRADE: C+
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Penguin Commercial Grade
Do you hear the cheers and high fives from the Pens front office? Yeah! They gave up an expiring contract in a season in which their rebuild continues and got back a relatively young defenseman with three 30-point seasons under his belt AND a second-rounder.
You make this deal 1,000 times out of 1,000. Well done. GRADE: A
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Samuel Girard Trades Ratings Over Avalanche-Penguins Deal