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Girard gets in first practice |
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Rick Sadowski
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New Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard and forwards Blake Comeau, J.T. Compher and Colin Wilson took part in a full practice session Tuesday at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm in preparation for the 2017 SAP NHL Global Series against Ottawa on Friday and Saturday.
Girard was acquired Sunday from Nashville as part of the three-team trade that sent Matt Duchene to the Senators.
Compher (broken thumb) and Wilson (hip) have each missed the past six games because of their injuries. Comeau was hurt Sunday against the New York Islanders when he was hit near his left ear by a deflected shot.
Coach Jared Bednar told NHL.com's Dan Rosen that Wilson "probably" will play Friday, and that Compher "is progressing nicely and could be joining us." Comeau is day-to-day.
Once Compher is cleared to play, he's expected to center the second line.
"That's good to hear, but it's just about first of all getting back from an injury and feeling comfortable and then getting back to try to help the team," Compher told Rosen. "I thought I was off to a good start. Injuries happen. It's a part of the game."
Rookie forward Tyson Jost (lower-body injury) practiced while wearing a non-contact jersey but didn't take part in drills. He's missed eight games.
Center Carl Soderberg was in Denver with his wife, who is due to give birth to their second child.
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Girard, 19, is expected to make his Avalanche debut Friday. He had one goal and two assists in five games with the Predators.
"We'll have a couple days here to brush him up," Bednar said. "We'll trickle some information to him ... get him up to speed so he feels comfortable and ready to play."
Girard, who is 5-feet-10 and 162 pounds, was a healthy scratch for nine games this season with Nashville. A second-round pick (No. 47) in 2016, he had nine goals and 66 assists in 59 games last season with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2016, with a goal and eight assists in five playoff games.
"When you're a key player, you need to prove to the coaching staff that you deserve to be in the top four," he said. "That's what I'll try to do for the next couple days. That's what I want. I want to be in the top four."
The Avalanche have eight healthy defensemen. Anton Lindholm sustained a broken jaw Saturday against Philadelphia and will be sidelined indefinitely.
The Predators were in Los Angeles when the trade was made. It took Girard 14 hours to get to Stockholm. He flew from L.A. to London, then to Helsinki, Finland, before catching a flight to Stockholm. He arrived at 1:30 a.m. local time.
"I fell asleep at 3:30, so a short night for me, but I think it was a good practice," Girard said. "I'll try to get a nap this afternoon."
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As for the other three players acquired in the trade:
Forward Vladislav Kamenev has joined the AHL San Antonio Rampage. Goalie Andrew Hammond will remain for now with the AHL Belleville Senators while on loan. Forward Shane Bowers is a freshman at Boston University.
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