It has been widely reported that trades were coming for the Colorado Avalanche. On Friday, the team made their first move, shipping popular pugilist Cody McLeod to the Nashville Predators in exchange for forward Felix Girard.
McLeod skated in 28 contests for the Avalanche this season, tallying one goal and racking up 52 penalty minutes. The 32-year-old enforcer has spent his entire career with the Avalanche, scoring 66 goals, 117 points and accumulating 1,359 penalty minutes in 659 career games.
Having signed with the Avalanche as an undrafted free agent in the summer of 2006 and making his NHL debut in the 2007-2008 season, McLeod was the team’s longest-tenured player.
A fourth-round selection (95th overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Girard has yet to make his NHL debut. The 22-year-old center have three goals and eight points in 35 games for the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals this season. He is known as a fast skater, who works hard and is aggressive on the forecheck. He will report to the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage.
As part of the deal, the Avalanche will retain 40 percent of McLeod’s salary. His deal runs through next season, and carries an annual cap hit of $1.33 million.
