Avalanche trade Cody McLeod to Nashville

The Colorado Avalanche announced they have traded longtime forward Cody McLeod to the Nashville Predators in exchange for forward Felix Girard. The deal ends the stay of the longest-tenured Avs player as McLeod was in his 10th season as an Av.

The 32-year old McLeod tallied 658 games played in an Avs sweater, recording 117 points (66 g, 51 a) to go along with his 1,357 penalty minutes. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2006 after playing for the Portland Winter Hawks of the WHL.

In exchange for the gritty McLeod, whose ice time and overall role were greatly diminished this season under new head coach Jared Bednar, the Avalanche are receiving a player in Girard who will be sent to the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL to add more depth.

Girard, 22, was a fourth-round pick by the Predators in the 2013 NHL draft and is in his third season in the AHL. Thus far, he has played in 172 AHL games, scoring 38 points (12 g, 26 a) to go along with 145 penalty minutes. At just 5’10”, 196 pounds, Girard was known in juniors for his defensive acumen, twice winning the Guy Carbonneau Trophy, awarded in the QMJHL for “Best Defensive Forward”. He was a two-time captain for his junior team, the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.

Girard is in the final year of his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

Per Pierre LeBrun of ESPN, the Avalanche agreed to retain 40% of McLeod’s remaining salary as part of a condition of the trade. With one year remaining and a $1.33M cap hit, the Avalanche will still be on the hook for just over $500K on next year’s cap sheet.Colorado’s roster is now reduced to 22 players. No subsequent moves have been announced yet.