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Pittsburgh Penguins News

The Avalanche have signed Samuel Girard to a seven-year deal worth $35.0M ($5.0M AAV).

Girard posted a career-high with 27 points (4G / 23A) in 82 games last season. Girard will be the man in Colorado to start 2020 following the trade of Tyson Barrie. However, Cale Makar could quickly elevate up the depth chart but Girard will likely play on the top-pair and second power-play to open the season.

Samuel Girard
The Sharks have signed Erik Karlsson to an eight-year contract extension worth $92.0 million ($11.5M AAV).

Karlsson was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st but the Sharks have locked him up through the 2026-27 season. Karlsson’s new $11.5M cap-hit, represents a $5.0M raise and makes him the highest-paid defenseman in the NHL. After a slow-start and an injury plagued season, Karlsson posted his lowest point total (45) since 2012-13, but his point-per-game number (0.849) was right there with his most recent seasons.

Erik Karlsson
The Jets have signed David Gustafsson to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Gustafsson was picked in the second-round (No.60 overall) in 2018 and is coming off of his second season in the Swedish Elite League. Gustafsson had two goals and 10 assists (12 points) in 36 games with HV71 and also had three assists in five games while playing with Sweden at the U20 World Juniors.

David Gustafsson
van Riemsdyk underwent shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the playoffs.

van Riemsdyk suffered a shoulder injury in Game 2 vs. the Islanders and will miss the rest of the year after undergoing surgery. Haydn Fleury has replaced van Riemsdyk on the back-end and Jake Bean has been recalled as a reserve defenseman heading into the Eastern Conference Finals.

Trevor van Riemsdyk
Girard (upper-body) will return to the Avalanche lineup for Game 1.

Girard suffered an upper-body injury in Game 2 in Calgary and missed the next three games. With Girard returning to the lineup, the Avalanche are expected to go with 11 forwards and seven defenseman but it remains unclear whether Girard or Cale Makar will quarterback the second power-play unit—they alternated in Thursday’s practice.

Samuel Girard
Letang (upper-body) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.

Letang has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury but could be back Thursday vs. the Red Wings. Letang has missed a lot of time lately but had a point in each of the three games he played in between his two injuries, giving him 16 goals and 40 assists (56 points) in 63 games this season.

Kris Letang