I'm not a huge fan of Girard but he is a solid top 4 Dman and an elite puck mover. He helps make our D the best in the league.
Without him we are one injury away from Jack Johnson playing top 4 minutes.
I think his role on the team is more important that what Kuznetsov would offer even at half his salary retained. Girard is worth more to us with how we play than anything Kuznetsov would bring.
Now if we can get an extended Tom Wilson for Girard I'd be listening. But I can't see that happening.
That said, I think Girard will need to go when it's time to resign Toews so we simply cannot trade salary for salary if we move Girard. We cannot let a top 5 Dman like Toews walk. He is that good. So I think a trade for picks and prospects would be the way to go and use Girards 5 mil to resign Toews.
If the Habs would trade Lane Hutson straight up for Girard I'd do it today. Even though Hutson is undersized he has Makar-like ability, vision, skating ability and puck handling. The kids going to be a superstar.
So trade Sam Girard for Lane Hutson and give Toews an 8 year, 68 mil contract (8.5 mil per) and roll with a top 3 of Makar, Toews and Byram.
That gives us the leagues best threesome of defenders right now and 3 absolute offensive gems on the backend in Hutson, Behrens and Gulyayev.
