Avalanche defenseman Sam Girard out for personal reasons

Head coach Jared Bednar said Samuel Girard has left the team for personal reasons. This comes after the defenseman scored his first goal of the season last week.

Defenseman Samuel Girard has left the team for personal reasons, head coach Jared Bednar said after the loss to Nashville on Monday night. He confirmed on Wednesday morning via Altitude Sports radio show that he will probably not play against Vancouver, but is doing ok. A timeline for his return is unknown. 

Girard has struggled in some games which may have contributed to Bednar scratching him in the Nov. 13 game against the Seattle Kraken. But he responded in the following matchup against the Anaheim Ducks.

"I'm pretty happy with the way I'm playing. Couple bad bounces at times. I been playing pretty good," Girard said last week. 

The 25-year-old scored the first goal of the game — his first of the season — and assisted on another. He finished with a plus-1 having spent 22 minutes and 24 seconds on the ice. 

"Just have to keep going like I've been doing — shooting, create some plays, playing defensive as well," the Roberval, Quebec native said. "Those things (are) going to come, not very worried about that. Just have to keep bringing it like we did last game."

After 15 games played so far this season, Girard has four points with a minus-7 rating. He said there have been ups and downs adjusting with the new players on the team but it's part of the process. 

Josh Manson returned to the lineup from injury and was paired with Bowen Byram, who is usually paired with Girard. 

It's not known whether he'll play against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, or when he'll return to the team.