Canadiens Trade Deadline: Leafs Inquired About David Savard

There’s interest around the league when it comes to acquiring the services of Montreal Canadiens defenceman David Savard.

However, general manager Kent Hughes is in no rush to move the veteran blueliner.

“The Habs are okay if they do nothing between now and tomorrow,” said Pierre LeBrun on TSN 1050. “The players we’re talking about that really come to mind are David Savard and Jake Allen. And both have another year in their deal.”

While the market for goaltenders is rarely exciting, there’s always a need for defensive reinforcements among teams hoping to secure a long playoff run.

On that note, there’s still a possibility Allen could get moved by Friday, but some teams have suggested a summer deal would suit their roster construction better.

“The Canadiens have had calls from a couple of teams that have said it’s easier to talk about trading Jake Allen in the summer,” said LeBrun. “It doesn’t mean he won’t move tomorrow.”

Montreal Canadiens Defensive Dilemma

As for Savard, the Canadiens are looking to receive a healthy return, and given Hughes’  track record of not bowing to pressure, it’s unlikely he’ll accept any deal that doesn’t match his set price.

“Savard is a tricky one,” he said. “He is beloved in that room. When they traded Sean Monahan, it devastated that dressing room. That team is trying to turn it over during the next year or two. And it can’t just be about asset management all the time

“I think it’s going to be a pretty interesting discussion within those walls tomorrow. They’re getting calls on him. The Leafs are one of the teams that have enquired about David Savard. But the Leafs, like other teams, are like “We’re not paying that!”. And the Habs are telling other teams “We’re not wavering from that, because we can trade him in a year at the deadline, or the summer, or maybe never,”.

There’s no doubt Savard is one of the most popular players in the Canadiens dressing room, and there’s certainly value in keeping a veteran presence to mentor one of the youngest lineups in the NHL.

On the flip side, emotions aside, he’s a 33-year-old defenceman who is unlikely to improve his value in the next year, which means the Canadiens have to navigate the situation carefully.

Team culture is important, but not at the expense of potentially adding a high-end asset to the organization that could play a big part in the team’s long-term rebuild plans. As we saw last season when interest in forward Josh Anderson was high, perceived value in the NHL can shift considerably from one season to the next.