Update on Colorado Avalanche investigation and the verdict is quickly answered

The massive blockbuster trade sending the veteran defenseman to the Pittsburgh Penguins raised immediate red flags across the league. Girard left his debut game early and was heavily evaluated for a lower-body injury.

Rumors swirled rapidly since Friday that Colorado management could face a severe league investigation for moving damaged goods.

General manager Chris MacFarland engineered the deal specifically to clear vital cap space right before the upcoming deadline. It's a massive relief for a front office that urgently needed financial flexibility.

But trading an injured player without full medical disclosure carries massive penalties from the commissioner. Lost draft picks and heavy fines were genuinely on the table.

The massive speculation and panic completely ended on Saturday morning. Girard is entirely healthy and fully available to step right back onto the blue line.

That immediate medical clearance permanently shuts down any potential probe into the Avalanche front office operations. Colorado officially keeps their newly acquired assets without any further league interference.

Carrying a hefty $5 million cap hit through 2027, the 27-year-old blueliner is heavily relied upon to deliver crisp passing. The Penguins are currently desperate for his solid execution to stabilize their defensive structure.

Adding to the game day news, Skinner gets the start in the crease tonight for the Penguins. The locker room is ready to move past the off-ice distractions and secure two points.

MacFarland can now focus entirely on his next roster move. There is no longer a dark cloud hanging over the front office as the rest of the league watches their next transaction.

The internal drama is completely over, allowing both franchises to execute their respective game plans down the stretch.

Expect Girard to log heavy minutes immediately on the top pairing and permanently silence the lingering injury whispers.