I think Girardi is more like Orpik than he is Scuderi, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't take the risk... in FA.
In a trade? Hell no.
It's not like we're only risking cap hit/dollars when we discuss guys like Scuderi, Hejda, etc... we're risking good young talent we'd have to move in either roster players or picks.
I can't justify the Avs making that kind of move right now when the farm isn't exactly stacked and we're not yet contenders. In 1-2 years? Perhaps. But this year we just want to win a round, which means we don't need to make a massive trade unless it is in our favor to do so.
If the proposed deal of Girardi and JT Miller for McGinn, Barrie/Elliott and Wilson is the actual deal the Avs have to make it. Yes Girardi is a UFA at years end, but you have to take the risk that he'll re-sign. He is only 29, and he is a solid work horse dman, like Hejda, that makes us instantly better.
JT Miller ends up being every bit as good as McGinn and is younger. Wilson is pretty much garbage at this point and has no value to us moving forward.
So basically the only young piece you give up for an established workhorse dman is Barrie or Elliott, Barrie would be a bigger loss, but neither has shown they will be anything more than middle pairing guy with some offensive flair. There is a good chance that neither of them amount to anything more than a bottom pairing guy because both don't handle physical play very well.
Avs would be very stupid to make not to make the proposed trade. It makes us better going forward without giving up any core pieces.