With plenty of time left before the NHL trade deadline, the Montreal Canadiens are shaping up to be a key team to watch in the market. Focused on building for the future, the Canadiens are expected to offload a few assets as they remain near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
One player almost certain to be on the move is veteran defenseman David Savard. The 34-year-old has been a hot topic in trade discussions for the past year, and with his contract now in its final season, a trade appears increasingly likely.
Multiple sources have told Responsible Gambler that Savard will be highly sought after at the deadline. Right-shot defensemen are considered a rare and valuable commodity, especially those on expiring deals.
Savard checks all the boxes: a 34-year-old right-shot blueliner with extensive NHL experience and a Stanley Cup championship in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“He’s a Cup-winning, top-four, right-shot defenseman,” a source told rg.org. “While a first-round pick might be too high a price for some teams, a contender with serious Stanley Cup ambitions could absolutely pay that without raising eyebrows. Based on what I’m hearing, it’s very likely Savard will be moved.”
Trade talks involving Savard were active last year, but no deal materialized, largely due to the additional year remaining on his contract at the time.
“That extra year on his deal and our cap situation just didn’t line up,” an Eastern Conference scout explained. “But now, as a pure rental, I expect those discussions to ramp up come February.”
The Canadiens had hoped to be more competitive in 2024-25, but things haven’t come together as planned. While they won’t part with any of their young core players, Savard emerges as the most logical trade candidate.
With another losing season likely on the horizon, Savard is expected to be Montreal’s top trade asset. Despite current struggles, the Canadiens’ future remains promising—they’ll just need to be patient as they continue their rebuild.
Leave a Reply