Avalanche lock up Girard with 7-year extension reportedly worth $35M

The Colorado Avalanche have signed defenseman Samuel Girard to a seven-year contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.

The deal comes with an average annual value of $5 million, according to the Denver Post's Mike Chambers.

Girard has one more year remaining on his entry-level contract. The extension will kick in for the 2020-21 season and keep him in Colorado through the 2026-27 campaign.

Girard was acquired by the Avs in the three-team trade in November 2017 that sent Matt Duchene to the Ottawa Senators and Kyle Turris to the Nashville Predators. He was a second-round pick by the Preds in 2016.

The 21-year-old tallied 27 points in 82 games last season. Girard, who stands just 5-foot-10 and 162 pounds, excels at skating and moving the puck.

Colorado's blue line is filled with promising young players, including 2019-20 Calder Trophy favorite Cale Makar, 2019 fourth overall pick Bowen Byram, and Girard.

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