David Savard would offer leadership and a sound game for a contender
Once again, a team looking for one more leader would benefit from David Savard, especially a young group. Savard was part of that unprecedented 2018-19 Columbus Blue Jackets team that snuck into the playoffs and stunned the Tampa Bay Lightning in the First Round of the postseason, so he knows a thing or two about adversity.
He also won his first Stanley Cup two seasons later in 2021, ironically with the Lightning and against the Canadiens. Since then, Savard has made a living in Montreal on the top-four, and he’s kept up his physical game with 237 hits and 400 blocks across 157 contests as a member of the Habs.
At 33, Savard could even drop to the bottom-pairing for a team looking for a defenseman who plays with an edge. Someone willing to block shots and finish hits, and can also play on the top-four should injuries strike. Savard checks those boxes, and the stay-at-home blueliner can also pitch in as a member of the penalty kill.
Overall, Savard offers little value to the Canadiens at this point in his career, given this team’s transformation into a younger group. However, for a contender currently a few rungs higher than the Canadiens, Savard makes for a sound addition down the stretch.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference as of February 20th)