Montreal Canadiens: Could Contenders Injuries Lead To David Savard Trade?

The Montreal Canadiens are supposedly in the trade market as they look to move a goaltender. It makes sense they would want to reduce their number of active goaltenders from three to two, but they have been unable to find a trade partner.

With Sam Montembeault now signed to a three year contract extension, it appears likely that Jake Allen or Cayden Primeau will be on the move. Finding a taker for an unproven Primeau or an expensive Allen appears to be a difficult process for the Canadiens, but a trade of one of them seems inevitable at this point.

It was recently reported the Canadiens may also be looking to move a veteran forward or two in the near future as well. That means general manager Kent Hughes has been busy working the phones. Even though reports are out there about him looking to move a goaltender and a forward, wouldn't a veteran defenseman with a Stanley Cup rin fetch a decent return as well?

David Savard signed a four year contract with the Canadiens in 2021 and is now in the third season of that deal. Just before arriving in Montreal, he helped the Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup. Savard was acquired that spring by the Lightning for first and third round draft picks after putting up six points in 41 games with the Colmbus Blue Jackets.

Obviously acquired for his defensive abilities, Savard remains a strong defensive player who can fit on a team's second or third pairing and top penalty killing unit. He may not fetch a first and third round pick again, but his value is not that much lower than it was three trade deadlines ago.

With a couple of recent injuries around the National Hockey League, there are a couple of teams that could suddenly be in the market for a player like Savard.