Sam Girard was getting ready to practice with the Avalanche and then fly to Utah on Tuesday morning when he got called into a meeting and was told he wouldn't be going to Utah at all -- he was going to Pittsburgh. It was a pleasant surprise for the 27-year-old defenseman, who was acquired along with a second-round pick in exchange for Brett Kulak.

"I'm very excited for a new start here," he said. "Great team. You know, a lot of good stuff happened here, and a good organization. So very, very happy, very excited."

Dan Muse is excited about what they're adding in Girard, too.

"He's really good puck mover, great at just going back," Muse said of Girard. "He's a deceptive skater, too. He can break pressure there with his skating. At the blue line, same thing. He's a guy who's got a different type of offense there in terms of the movement. He doesn't get enough credit for how well he defends. He does a really good job. A player that size, not the biggest guy in the world, but he defends really well just with his brain, and he anticipates. Really good stick detail."

Girard said his "first quality" is his ability to break pucks out of the defensive zone.

"Using my feet, got some good speed," he added. "I think I can bring some offense to the team as well. It's going to take a little bit to get the system of the team. I'm just going to have to make sure I'm ready for tomorrow night."