Montreal Canadiens Rumor: David Savard Could Be Traded Before Deadline

The Montreal Canadiens started their selling early this season. As they enter their third consecutive trade season as sellers, they look to add some high draft picks and top prospects to the team before the trade deadline on March 8.

They already picked up another first round pick for the 2024 NHL Draft as they traded Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets. That was a tidy piece of business as everyone could see a Monahan trade coming but not many believed a first round pick would be the return.

The Canadiens do not have a lot of other obvious trade candidates. Players are either part of the team long term because they are part of the future core, part of the team long term because their contract dictates no one else will take them, or they just don't have that much trade value.

One player that isn't really expected to get traded is David Savard. However, according to some of the top insiders in the game, it is not impossible to see Savard traded before the trade deadline.

Pierre LeBrun of TSN reported last night that he doesn't believe the Canadiens want to trade Savard, and they are not out there shopping him around, but if someone were to send an offer that makes them think then Savard could be dealt.

This seems kind of obvious, but there are always certain players on teams that are kept around for leadership and experience and as mentors. The Canadiens would like to do that with Savard who is 33 years old, won a Stanley Cup, has played over 750 games in the NHL and is signed to a reasonable contract at $3.5 million through next season.

But, for all of those reasons, and the fact he plays the right side and is a steady penalty killer and shot blocker, we could see a team reach out and make a significant offer for Savard.

Three years ago, Savard was acquired for first and third round picks before helping the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup. There is no reason to believe that his value has gone down dramatically, if at all.

I would think if a team offers a first round pick for Savard he will be packing his bags much like Monahan, but if that offer never comes the Canadiens will be happy to keep him around as a leader on a young blue line.