The Montreal Canadiens surplus of defenseman makes them an easy team to include in trade rumours.
Especially when there are more than a few defenders in the mix to play for the team this year and next. With that, it could make a few guys expendable, especially for the right price. David Savard seemed like an obvious choice to be moved at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, given his resume and experience.
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That didn't happen, but unsurprisingly his name is back in the rumour mill, with a trio of Western conference teams reportedly interested in acquiring the veteran rearguard's services. According to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets have all kicked the tires on Savard. For whatever reason it hasn't materialized yet, but that also isn't surprising because with the young group of defensemen coming through the pipeline, having a mentor is important.
Savard out west doesn't seem crazy
Western conference teams tend to play with more bite, which increases the importance of having big, shutdown defenders. Savard fits that criteria perfectly, considering that he isn't going to be pushed around and he has no problem putting his body on the line for the benefit of the team. He is essentially a coach's dream because he plays the same way every shift and doesn't make many mistakes.
For the trio of teams that have shown interest in Savard, it's easy to see that they want to add a piece of two that will push them over the top. Savard wouldn't be a glamorous addition, but he would be the type of add that becomes essential when the important games come down to the wire. Savard has been there before and having his calming presence on the bench is something that the rest of the group can benefit from.
The Dallas Stars are a bit surprising since they seem to have a pretty solid group of defenders, with Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley leading the charge. However, with Ryan Suter off to St Louis, the Stars are going to have a big hole to fill. Savard could be a nice addition to try and fill the vacant spot, though replacing Suter would need to be more by committee.
Winnipeg isn't surprising at all, because aside from Josh Morrissey, the Jets need some help on their blueline. They have a relatively veteran-laden group, so adding Savard wouldn't help them get any younger, but he would be a bit of a sneaky, solid add. The Jets blueline is their weakness and I think that Savard would be a lock on the defence right away.
As for the Avalanche, Colorado clinched their first Stanley Cup championship in 2022, but haven't been able to make much noise since. They are dominant during the regular season, but they appear to need some touch ups to get back to the promised land. Cale Makar leads the group, with Devon Toews and Josh Manson helping in support roles - so they seem like a weird option - but adding Savard to their group could be a sneaky good addition.