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Kyle Dubas made the right bet, but Sam Girard must deliver now
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Dejan Kovacevic put Sam Girard under the light, and Pittsburgh's $5 million bet sits on one point through nine games.
Kovacevic's Tuesday Daily Shot lands because this is not really about patience.
It is about roster design in late March, with the Pittsburgh Penguins chasing points and trying to decide whether Girard is a fix or a warning.
Samuel Girard, 27, came over from Colorado on February 24 with a 2028 second-round pick for Brett Kulak.
He was a 2016 second-round pick by Nashville, and his contract runs through 2026-27 at a $5 million cap hit.
The harder part is the fit.
Pittsburgh did not trade for raw offense. Dubas bought exits, puck support, and a left-shot defender who can keep the top-six attacking instead of looping back.
You can see why this clip below sparked the question.
Samuel Girard puts Pittsburgh Penguins on the clock
The mood around this move is tense, because the process looks cleaner than the box score.
Girard entered Tuesday with 3-10-13 in 49 games overall, and just 0-1-1 in his nine games with Pittsburgh.
That split says a lot.
If he helps break pressure and feeds cleaner touches to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the trade works before the points spike.
If he gets trapped in his own zone, Dubas still needs another answer on the blue line before this group can trust its playoff shape.
That is why tonight matters against Colorado. The Penguins are 35-19-16, and Girard's next few games matter more than his trade-day shine.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff hopes weaken as defensive breakdowns continue in March
Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff hopes weaken as defensive breakdowns continue in March
| POLL | ||
MARS 24|64 ANSWERS Kyle Dubas made the right bet, but Sam Girard must deliver now Has Sam Girard already justified Pittsburgh's trade bet? | ||
| Yes | 30 | 46.9 % |
| No | 34 | 53.1 % |
| List of polls | ||