After an extremely difficult start to the season, the Canadian finally offered fans a positive streak over the last week by winning three of his last four matches.
Although an interesting sequence, we still have to face the facts: CH is still languishing in the bottom of the general NHL rankings and the idea of making the playoffs this season already seems very far away.
This therefore means that once again this year, the chances of seeing the DG Kent Hughes turning into a seller at the trade deadline is very big.
In discussion with sources from two NHL teams, the journalist Marco D’Amico of the site Responsible Gambler recently learned that the chances of seeing the veteran defenseman be traded this season by the Canadian are very high. In fact, one of these two teams negotiated with CH last season to get their hands on Savard.
We looked closely at the Savard file last year but could not weigh in on the trigger. His additional year on his contract combined with our salary structure did not allow us to make this transaction. However, this year, when he will be a rental player only, it’s a completely different story.
– Source from an NHL team
Moreover, when we go around the league to draw up the list of experienced right-handed defensemen who will be available on the market at the deadline, we quickly realize that it will be very slim. In the company of Savard, there will be Cody Ceci et Jan Rutta of the San Jose Sharks, Dante Fabbro of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Erik Johnson of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Of the lot, the veteran Canadiens defenseman seems the most attractive, in addition to having a Stanley Cup ring.
In light of this information, everything indicates that not only will Savard be traded in the coming months but it would also not be surprising to see Hughes receive a first round pick or a very good prospect in return for his services.
- Aged 34, David Savard is a 6’1″/235lbs right-handed defenseman selected in the 4th round (94th overall) in the 2009 draft. So far this season, he has collected 4 assists in 17 games. He is currently in the final year of his contract earning him an average of $3.5 million per season and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
More details will follow.
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