 Girard was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 4th round (95th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.Serving as the captain of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar since the 2012–13 season, Girard was selected as the QMJHL's best defensive forward for both the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons, becoming the only player to have won the Guy Carbonneau Trophy twice.In the final year of his entry-level contract in the 2016–17 season, on January 13, 2017, Girard was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Cody McLeod and was immediately assigned to AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.