Three players the Colorado Avalanche can target to replace Samuel Girard
Sometimes in life, there are more important things than sports. You the reader can determine where you stand on those specific issues, but one issue that is likely to be universally considered more important than sports is the issue of addiction and mental health. This particular instance is a serious matter as it affects the Colorado Avalanche and one of the members of their family.
Unfortunately for the Colorado Avalanche, Samuel Girard recently entered the player assistance program. Although this leaves a hole on the second defensive pairing for Colorado, the bigger concern, obviously, is for Samuel’s health and well-being as he will be out indefinitely to receive the care he needs.
Playing hockey is not as important as his overall health, and we here at Mile High Sticking wish him the best in his battle. Whether he comes back to play hockey this season, next season, or ever again, the staff here is far more concerned with Sam the person, and hoping he gets the help he needs and can continue to live a productive and fulfilling life for himself and his family.
The Avalanche now have a void in the second defensive pairing. With a tight salary cap situation and the league in full swing, it won’t be easy for Colorado to fill that void, but there are a few options or directions they can utilize in trying to fill the void. Surely the front office will be creative in either trading for a player, signing a free agent, or looking in house for a replacement for now. Here are some options in those avenues for the Avalanche moving forward.
3.) Caleb Jones
Caleb Jones has been filling the void for Colorado of late. Jones was drafted by Edmonton in the fourth round in 2015. The 6’1” 194-pound Texas native was acquired by the Colorado Avalanche this past offseason from Carolina and started the season with the Colorado Eagles of the AHL.
With the Eagles, he played 12 games, obtaining 6 assists during that span. Since his call up, he’s played six games in the burgundy and blue, garnering one assist and is a plus four (on the ice for four more goals scored than allowed).
Caleb has shown an ability to succeed at the NHL level in the past, as he had sixteen points in 71 games with Chicago last season, and 15 points in 51 games the season prior to that, also with Chicago.
Jones knows the system and can operate well in it, and with the Avalanche’s cap situation the way it is, is the most likely option for them moving forward, even if they shift the pairs around to ensure Jones plays third pair minutes. He’s averaging about 12:52 ice time per game over his last five games, so that may be what has already occurred with him.
As Girard does, Jones enjoys the physical aspects of the game as well as board battles. He’s got an ability to chip in on offense as we already discussed, but it appears his game is that of a defensive minded player. He’s a solid overall defenseman who plays a smart game.
2.) Ethan Bear
If the Avalanche choose to go the free agency route to fill this need, they can look at a player like Ethan Bear. The 5’11” 197-pound defenseman was drafted by Edmonton in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, a round after Jones ironically.
Prior to being drafted, Bear had a prolific career with Seattle in the Western league, averaging almost a point per game in 2015-’16 and over a point per game in 2016-17. Bear played a little more than half a season with Edmonton’s AHL affiliate in 2017-18 and has only played 52 more AHL games since.
During his time in the NHL, Bear has seen some injuries, having logged only one season of more than 71 games played. During that season, Bear chipped in five goals to go along with 16 assists to total 21 points. Bear also totaled 33 penalty minutes that season. In 2021-22 Bear totaled 14 points in 58 games with Carolina, and totaled 16 points with Vancouver in 22-23 in 61 games.
It is said by scouts that Bear plays a physical game and sees the ice well. Those are two qualities the Avalanche could use, and he bears a resemblance size-wise to Girard. The Avalanche will be difficult to play against if they add a player like Bear to team with players like Toews and Josh Manson already in the lineup.
As he is currently recovering from shoulder surgery, this addition may be a bit of a gamble or even premature, but Bear would be a nice addition to the team now and in the future. The 26-year-old from Saskatchewan has plenty of tread left on his tires to help a team moving forward.
As Bear is likely to have several suitors, the Avalanche may need to be creative in opening up money to sign him.
1.) Egor Zamula
The Avalanche could also attempt to flil the void left by Girard via a trade. A possible trade target could be a player like Egor Zamula, currently of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Zamula has been up in the NHL with the Flyers for 17 games this season, but with Rasmus Ristolainen back from injury, Zamula will now be a healthy scratch and possibly sent back to the American League. Zamula is on a one year, $775k contract, and it’s likely the Avalanche could work with that under their current salary cap situation.
The Russian-born Zamula played junior in the Western Hockey League. He was drafted in the import draft by the Regina Pats but played most of his career with the Calgary Hitmen.
Zamula was signed by the Flyers as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and has spent the last few seasons splitting time between the big club and their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Zamula appears to be a highly regarded prospect by the Flyers but has yet to fully establish himself at the NHL level, playing no more than the current season’s 17 games. He’s played well with Lehigh, totaling 54 points over parts of three seasons.
Zamula uses his size (6’3” 200 lbs) to play a physical style of game and can move the puck, but scouts say he lacks consistency at this point. This can be gained with more ice time as Zamula is only 23 years old.
If Colorado were to trade for him, he’d fit right in as there are other Russian players on the team. There would instantly be a level of comfort for him. It is currently unknown what the Flyers would be expecting in a trade package for Zamula.
As his contract is a short one in length, the Avalanche could get an extended look at Zamula over the rest of the season and have plenty of sample size to determine if they believe he’s part of the future in Colorado.