It’s no secret that the Montreal Canadiens rebuild has emphasized that the younger players filling roles take precedence over experience. That’s not to say there aren’t veterans in the lineup who play a very important part in the grand scheme of things. Youth are prone to mistakes, and that’s perfectly normal for growth, however, having a veteran to calm things down on the ice is crucial.
The fanbase may underappreciate certain players, opting to cheer for more intriguing or big-name players. But if you ask around the locker room, younger players are quick to show their appreciation for the guidance from older, established players. A perfect example of such is two members of the defence brigade, while young, there are two veterans Mike Matheson and David Savard.
For this exercise, we will zoom in on Savard, and why he is an important presence on the Canadiens defence. He isn’t as fleet of foot as he once was, and he won’t ever be confused for an elite skating puck mover. But he will put his body on the line, and give his all for his team every shift.
Savard’s Importance To Habs
Savard will give us fans a treat every now and then when he pulls off his signature toe-drag rush. But we know his importance has nothing to do with offense, or skating the puck out of the zone. He is a meat and potatoes player, and he is effective because he isn’t asked to play above his capacity.
It’s especially important to a young blue line to have a defender who blocks shots, clears the front of the net and brings a calm, poised presence. Thankfully for the Canadiens, Savard provides those things, which aid in the development of the young blueliners. He also brings consistency to the corp, which is something that’s so important for the young professionals to draw from.
Another big thing that Savard brings to the defence is a winning acumen, as a Stanley Cup Champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020-21. The way he carries himself, and the knowledge from those big experiences are two big parts of his presence. Being able to speak from a place of winning, allows the youth to benefit from being able to ask him questions on the ice.
Kaiden Guhle made a point of commenting on Savard’s importance to his development. He pointed out that Savard sort of took him under his wing, and was able to guide him and answer questions. Savard’s hard-nosed style, team-first mentality and ability to mentor are where his importance shines brightest.
He might not be around after the 2023-24 campaign, but the lessons he can help the young guys learn will stay with them, well after he leaves. The knowledge they gained through asking him questions will benefit them throughout their careers.
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