Why does Colorado have a 4th liner as part of their options lool. They cant be first simply b/c of nichuskinin. Replace him with an actual talent and core worthy piece like newhook or landeskog and they go 1st. Also girard is a great young guy but he does not look like a number 1 D potentially probably not even a number 2. Think he will be a great number 3 defenseman. Replace him with byram who has an elite ceiling and its Avs by far.
...Yet he was a #1D on the 3rd best team in the league this season.
He's already a top pairing level defender. Ask just about any Avs fan and we'll tell you he was used as our #1D basically all year, most 5 on 5 minutes, logged tougher matchups then most guys(He and EJ) and paced to a 40 point pace without getting #1 PP minutes.
He wont end up a #1D since Makar will be that for the Avs. But he's already top pairing quality and not a lot of #2 guys in the league better than him.