18-year old defenseman Samuel Girard has been turning heads ever since he first took to the Nashville ice this Summer. It’s perhaps with little surprise then that today he became the first member of the Nashville Predators 2016 NHL Draft Class to sign his entry level contract.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (September 28, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Wednesday that the team has signed defenseman Samuel Girard to a three-year entry-level contract.

Girard, 18 (5/12/98), has played the last two seasons with the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL). In 2015-16, he played 67 games, amassing 74 points (10g-64a). He posted a plus-24 rating and scored seven power-play goals. Girard played 64 games for the Cataractes in 2014-15, recording 43 points (5g-38a) and a plus-15 rating.

Nashville’s second choice, 47th overall (second round), in the 2016 Entry Draft and a native of Roberval, Quebec, Girard is currently attending 2016 Predators Training Camp. He skated 20:49 on Tuesday in the Preds’ second preseason game against the Florida Panthers.

Girard still has two-years remaining of junior playing time before he could ever see the AHL ice here in Milwaukee. With how sharp the Predators second round choice in the most recent NHL Draft has looked though I question if Admirals fans will be afforded the luxury of seeing him as an Admiral for all that long of a stay.

In two-seasons playing for the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) Girard has produced 117 points (15 goals, 102 assists) from the blueline in 131 games. He was awarded the Raymond Lagacé Trophy in 2014-15 as the QMJHL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Rookie Team. He followed that up by being named the CHL Sportsman of the Year, the QMJHL Defenseman of the Year (Emile Bouchard Trophy), and the QMJHL Most Sportsmanlike Player (Frank J. Selke Trophy).  He’s expected to rejoin Shawinigan this Fall for his third season of junior hockey.

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