Samuel Girard Bio
Samuel Girard is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a defenceman for the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on May 12, 1998, in Roberval, Quebec, Girard began his hockey journey at a young age and rose through the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Shawinigan Cataractes. Selected 47th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, he joined the Avalanche in November 2017 and played a key role in helping the franchise capture the Stanley Cup in 2022.
Known for his smooth skating, mobility, and offensive instincts from the blue line, Girard has developed into a reliable top-four defenceman. He has represented Canada at multiple international junior tournaments and continues to be a steady presence on the Avalanche roster.
Early Life and Background
Samuel Girard was born on May 12, 1998, in Roberval, Quebec, Canada, to Guylaine, a family day care educator, and Tony Girard, a forklift driver. He was raised alongside his siblings Jérémy, Christopher, and Jessica. His uncle is Guy Larouche, the mayor of Roberval, giving the family deep roots in the small Lac-Saint-Jean community.
Girard first stepped onto the ice at four years old and quickly developed a passion for the game. He attended Wilbrod-Dufour Pavilion, where he began training with Mathieu Gravel to build muscle and stamina. While playing AA Bantam hockey for the Lac-St-Jean Espoirs, Girard was chosen to participate in the AllState Canadian All-Star Hockey Camp, an early sign of his potential.
Both Sam and his older brother Jérémy played midget hockey growing up, but the family could not afford to keep both boys in AAA. Jérémy gave up his spot so that Samuel could continue developing, a sacrifice that helped set the course for Girard’s future in the sport.
Path to Hockey
Girard played in the 2011 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor hockey team from Lac-Saint-Jean, gaining early exposure to competitive play. After graduating to the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QMAAA), he drew attention while playing with the Jonquière Élites and was considered a top prospect ahead of the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft. Following the 2013–14 season, he earned QMAAA First All-Star Team and Top Defenceman honours.
Selected third overall by the Shawinigan Cataractes in the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft, Girard became the first player from the Jonquière Élites drafted that high since Jean Imbeau in 1989. He moved in with power skating coach Julie Robitaille during his rookie season and trained with Mathieu Bellemare and Bruno-Carl Denis to gain physical strength, bulking up from 155 to 164 pounds by 2015.
In his first season with the Cataractes, Girard recorded his first QMJHL goal on November 15, 2014, and finished with 43 points in 64 games. He earned the Raymond Lagacé Trophy as Defensive Rookie of the Year and was nominated for Rookie of the Year alongside Dmytro Timashov. The following season, he posted a career-high 74 points in 64 games, won the Emile Bouchard Trophy as QMJHL Defenseman of the Year, the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as most sportsmanlike player, and the CHL Sportsman of the Year award.
Samuel Girard Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Selected 47th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Girard attended the Predators’ 2016 training camp and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on September 29, 2016. He was returned to the QMJHL to complete his final junior season, where he led the Shawinigan Cataractes in assists and tied for the team lead in points over 59 regular season games. He was again selected for Team QMJHL at the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series and named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team.
After his junior season ended, Girard was reassigned to the Predators’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. He recorded his first AHL goal on April 14, 2017, in a 6–2 win over the Rockford IceHogs, completing a steady transition from junior to professional hockey.
Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche Debut (2017–2018)
Girard made his NHL debut during the Predators’ 2017–18 season home opener on October 10, 2017, against the Philadelphia Flyers, recording his first point with an assist on a goal by Filip Forsberg. He scored his first NHL goal in just his second game on October 12, 2017, against the Dallas Stars, taking a pass from P. K. Subban and firing a slap shot over the shoulder of goaltender Ben Bishop.
After appearing in five of Nashville’s first 14 games, Girard was dealt alongside Vladislav Kamenev and a 2018 second-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche in a three-team trade for Kyle Turris on November 5, 2017. He joined the Avalanche in Stockholm, Sweden, for their Global Series games and registered an assist in his Avalanche debut at Ericsson Globe on November 10, 2017. He finished his first Avalanche season with 23 points and helped the team qualify for the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Colorado Avalanche Establishment (2018–2020)
During the 2018–19 season, Girard played all 82 games and tied for second among Avalanche defencemen with 27 points, averaging 19:53 in ice time. After the Avalanche were eliminated from the playoffs, Girard signed a seven-year, $35 million contract extension on July 31, 2019, carrying an annual average value of $5 million.
In 2019–20, Girard recorded a career-high four assists in a 7–3 win over the St. Louis Blues on January 2, 2020, and later played his 200th career NHL game. He joined fellow defenceman Cale Makar in the 30-point club, making the Avalanche the first team since 1993–94 with multiple defencemen under 22 recording at least 30 points in a season.
Stanley Cup Triumph (2021–2022)
Girard participated in the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup playoff run until Game 3 of the second round against the St. Louis Blues, when he exited after a hit from Ivan Barbashev. The Avalanche announced he had broken his sternum and would miss the remainder of the post-season. In Girard’s absence, Colorado advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals and defeated the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning in six games to win the Stanley Cup.
Driving Style and Strengths
Described as a smooth-skating and mobile defenceman, Girard has drawn comparisons to Duncan Keith and Brian Campbell for his strong edge work and balance. He uses his smarts and escapability to move the puck effectively and is trusted by Avalanche coaches to play against opposing teams’ top lines in important minutes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his Stanley Cup win in 2022, Girard captured a gold medal with Canada at the 2015 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and was honoured in 2019 with a recognition window at the Benoît-Lévesque Sports Centre in Roberval. He also became the longest active iron man streak holder on the Avalanche during the 2019–20 season.
Samuel Girard Career Wins
Samuel Girard has built a résumé that includes major junior awards, an international gold medal, and a Stanley Cup championship. His most significant victory came in 2022 when he helped the Colorado Avalanche capture the franchise’s first Stanley Cup since 2001, although a broken sternum forced him to watch the final rounds from the sidelines.
QMJHL and International Highlights
During his time with the Shawinigan Cataractes, Girard won the Raymond Lagacé Trophy as Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2015 and the Emile Bouchard Trophy as QMJHL Defenseman of the Year the same season. He also won the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player and the CHL Sportsman of the Year award. In 2015, he won a gold medal with Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, recording one point in four games.
Stanley Cup Victory
Girard’s crowning achievement came in 2022, when the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games to win the Stanley Cup. Despite missing the latter rounds due to injury, his contributions throughout the regular season and early playoffs helped establish the defensive foundation that drove Colorado’s championship run.
Samuel Girard Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Although hockey is the family sport rather than racing, Girard comes from a tight-knit family rooted in Roberval, Quebec. His parents, Guylaine and Tony Girard, supported his early development, and his brother Jérémy sacrificed his own AAA hockey opportunities so that Samuel could continue advancing. His uncle, Guy Larouche, served as the mayor of Roberval.
Personal Life
Girard is actively involved in charitable work, particularly raising funds for cystic fibrosis research in honour of his cousin who lives with the disease. In 2019, he and his father Tony hosted a pocket game tournament to support the cause. He has also donated a portion of his QMJHL profits to Julie Robitaille’s School of Power Skating in recognition of the coach who helped shape his career.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Samuel Girard remains a key member of the Colorado Avalanche defence corps, playing under the seven-year, $35 million contract extension he signed in 2019. He is expected to continue logging top-four minutes and contributing on the power play, where his skating and passing ability provide offensive spark from the blue line.
The Avalanche remain among the Stanley Cup favourites, and Girard’s experience from the 2022 championship run positions him as a veteran voice in the locker room. His partnership with younger defencemen like Cale Makar has helped anchor Colorado’s defensive identity for several seasons.
With his proven track record and durable skating style, Girard is poised to remain a steady presence on the Avalanche blueline throughout the 2025 campaign and beyond.