Tonight, all eyes will be on David Savard as the Edmonton Oilers visit Montreal.
According to several well-informed sources around the team, Oilers management will closely monitor the performance of the veteran Canadiens defenseman.
Kent Hughes, general manager of the Habs, is well aware of the growing interest in Savard, who has just returned to the game despite a slight injury.
Some say he wouldn’t have played tonight if the Oilers weren’t in town. We really want to place it in the window since visitors want to obtain it.
According to David Pagnotta, a respected journalist in the NHL world, David Savard corresponds exactly to the profile that the Oilers are looking for to solidify their defensive brigade.
Struggling on their numerical disadvantage, last in the league in this regard, the Oilers are desperately looking for a robust and defensive player to stabilize their game in the backcourt.
Savard, with his experience, his ability to block shots and his physical presence, could prove to be an accessible solution.
“I believe David Savard will be one of the options considered by the Oilers. They clearly want to add a physical, defensive defenseman to their blue line,” Pagnotta said.
Unlike last year’s acquisition of Matthias Ekholm, the Oilers have limited resources.
With limited salary cap space and few assets in terms of draft picks or young talent to offer, Edmonton must be strategic.
Savard, with a $3.5 million contract through 2025, represents a more affordable option than an elite defenseman.
Without a first round pick in 2025, we wonder what they could offer CH, while Kent Hughes definitely wants a high pick for Savard.
But he will have to face reality. He will never, ever get a 1st round pick for the Quebecer.
Still, Savard’s absence from the lineup due to his injury could have raised questions among Oilers management.
His presence tonight seems to indicate that the Canadiens want to demonstrate that he is in great shape, and will increase his value on the trade market in front of the team that wants him badly.
The March 7 trade deadline still seems far away, but discussions surrounding Savard could intensify quickly if Edmonton continues to explore its options to improve its defense.
With a rough start, the Oilers are hoping to maintain the momentum from the final few games, and an acquisition like Savard’s could solidify their chances for long-term success, especially in the playoffs.
It remains to be seen whether Kent Hughes will judge the moment to be opportune to take advantage of the Oilers’ interest or whether he will decide to keep his defensive leader within a team that is banking on the development of its young talents.
Hopefully he realizes Savard needs to be traded. At some point, Hughes has to take on the rebuild.
The Quebecer’s performance this evening will not go unnoticed. The defender knows too well that his time is limited in Montreal.
In the lives of David Savard and his family, a shadow has loomed large for several months, persistently obscuring their daily lives.
The CH defender finds himself at the heart of numerous transaction rumors, not only that of Edmonton, a subject which invades their privacy and puts a strain on their family stability.
For David Savard, it is impossible not to feel the weight of these daily speculations.
Rumors seep into every aspect of his life, even his personal relationships.
“It’s hard not to think about it. It really is everywhere! Your friends write to you to find out if what they have read is true, to find out if you are really going elsewhere. We talk about it, my wife and I. We are both on the same wavelength: we want to stay in Montreal, that’s clear”Savard told TVA Sports.
These constant questions, from friends and strangers, are just one of the many challenges the Savard family faces.
Discussions about leaving became an inevitable topic at home, bringing back memories of a past where they had to balance family life and frequent moves, as was the case during their stay in Columbus.
For David and his wife, staying in Montreal represents much more than a simple professional choice. This goes to the very essence of their family values.
The opportunity for their three young children to grow up in a French-speaking environment is essential to them.
“The fact that my children can attend French-speaking school is very important to us. When I was in Columbus, they lived in a world where almost everything was in English.
Even at home, when they played together, they spoke to each other a lot in English. »
This return to a primarily French-speaking life, facilitated by their presence in Montreal, allowed their children to reconnect with their culture.
“My wife and I spoke to them in French, but they answered us in English!
So being able to continue to bring French to life through our family values and being able to help children cultivate it is definitely a big challenge for my wife and me.
Obviously, all this is easier living in Quebec. »
Beyond the cultural and educational aspects, playing for the Montreal Canadiens is a source of pride for the entire Savard family. David feels the impact of his role within the team every day.
“There is a certain form of pride in the family that Dad plays for the Montreal Canadiens. At first, the children didn’t really understand.
But now when I wear them to school, people come up to me to sign autographs. Often, there are those who bring Canadian items to school for me to sign at the end of the day, hoping that I will come and pick up my children.
Hockey in Montreal is like nowhere else. It’s a religion. »
This notoriety, although socially demanding, makes their attachment to the city and the team even stronger.
Not for nothing that the defender absolutely wants to sign a contract extension in Montreal instead of being traded, he whose agreement ends this summer.
For David, this belonging to Quebec goes beyond the simple sporting aspect: it is a real link with a community that vibrates to the rhythm of hockey.
Despite rumors of departure for Edmonton, David Savard remains hopeful. For him, Montreal remains the ideal place to build a solid future with his teammates and make his ultimate dream come true: lifting the Stanley Cup.
“It’s every hockey player’s dream to win the Cup, but there’s nothing to say it couldn’t be here. We are building something solid.
Sometimes, all that’s missing is a spark, a big player to embark on a big adventure. »
We need to wake him up to reality. Because he dreams in color. If he wants to win a 2nd Stanley Cup, it will be in Edmonton and not Tampa Bay.
His hopes of not being traded turn each day into a battle against uncertainty.
For the Savards, leaving Montreal would mean much more than a simple move. This would mean giving up a way of life, a culture, and an environment conducive to their family development.
Tonight, as he faces the Oilers who see him as a priority on the trade market, his family will have to face this whirlwind of emotions, hoping that fate allows them to stay where they call home.
Paradoxical. Because Savard wants to play well. But if he plays well, a trade to Edmonton will become even more likely.
His attachment to Montreal and his dedication to his community are beyond doubt.
But he must face reality: his future is not in Montreal. He does indeed seem to be in one of the most depressing cities in Canada: Edmonton.
Although winning the Stanley Cup with Connor McDavid, there are worse things in life.
