The Montreal Canadiens were able to pull off one big trade already and could become busy between now and the trade deadline which is next Friday. With just five days to go until rosters need to be locked in for the playoffs, contending teams will be desperately looking to make an addition to their lineup.
The Canadiens traded Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets for a first round pick in 2024 and a conditional third round pick in the future that gets added if the Jets win the Stanley Cup this season. Monahan is fitting in well with seven goals in his first 11 games with the Jets, but the Canadiens are happy to have another high pick in a rebuilding season.
That trade came together quickly after Elias Lindholm was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Vancouver Canucks. Once that top center was off the market, teams turned their attention to Monahan to ensure they got something to help down the middle and were not left empty handed.
The same could happen with David Savard. Everyone knew Chris Tanev was going to be traded as he is a hard nosed right defensemen who plays a defense first style of game, hits, blocks shots and kills penalties.
Tanev was traded to the Dallas Stars for a second round pick and prospect Artem Grushnikov who was recently a second round pick himself. The Flames also received a conditional third round pick in that trade that they will get if the Stars make it to the Stanley Cup Final this season.
Tanev is a pending unrestricted free agent, and is a year older than Savard who is signed through next season at $3.5 million. That extra year could make Savard worth as much, if not a bit more than Tanev if a contending team has the cap space to bring him in and thinks he can help them in two playoff runs.
Who could fit that description, and what kind of a trade package could we expect for Savard? Let's take a look at three potential fits.