Penguins Place Sam Girard On IR, Recall Avery Hayes

The Penguins announced Saturday that they’ve placed defenseman Sam Girard on injured reserve and recalled forward Avery Hayes from the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Girard was hurt midway through the second period of last Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Golden Knights. While racing back to cut off a potential breakaway, Brett Howden tripped him, and he slid hard into the end boards. He left for the locker room and didn’t return. He has been listed as day-to-day since then and hasn’t played, though he skated on his own before Thursday’s morning skate. However, head coach Dan Muse didn’t give an update on his status thereafter. Defenseman Ilya Solovyov has slotted in to the Pens lineup in Girard’s place.

The 28-year-old had a productive start to the season before the injury, with a goal and six assists in nine games while averaging 18:44 per night. Availability has been a persistent issue for Girard, as it was in Colorado. He’s now in the final season of a seven-year, $35MM contract that carries a $5MM cap hit and will make him an unrestricted free agent next summer. Pittsburgh acquired him and a 2028 second-round pick from the Avalanche for Brett Kulak at the trade deadline last February.

Hayes adds depth to a forward group that’s been hit hard by injuries. Bryan Rust went on IR Thursday and will be re-evaluated in about six weeks. Ben Kindel was also placed on IR that day, and the Penguins recalled Rutger McGroarty in response. Hayes, 24, has earned the look. He leads Wilkes-Barre with five goals and nine points in six games and has a point in every game this season. Last year, he scored 24 goals and 39 points in 42 AHL games. He also scored five times in 16 NHL appearances, including two goals in his NHL debut against the Sabres on Feb. 5. The undrafted winger is in the second and final year of his entry-level deal, which carries an $830K cap hit. He’s on track for restricted free agency in July.