Last night against Utah, David Savard played a match where, despite his presence, one thing became clear: the Canadian’s defense succession can manage without him.
In the third period, after receiving two consecutive penalties, Savard spent a lot of time on the bench, leaving the young players in the defensive brigade to manage alone.
And guess what? They held on.
Without Michael Matheson in the lineup, the Canadiens defense could have collapsed.
However, Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Justin Barron and Jayden Struble have proven they are ready to take on more responsibility.
Despite a meager total of 13 shots on net for the team, these young defenders showed impressive resilience and limited the damage.
Their game, sometimes messy but full of energy, reminded us that the future of the Montreal blue line could well be played out without veterans.
David Savard himself did not ignore the efforts of his younger teammates after the match.
“These guys, they want to learn, they want to contribute. It’s beautiful to see”he mentioned.
A statement that could pass as encouragement, but which, in context, also sounds like an implicit recognition that his role could become secondary.
At 33 years old and with a contract that expires at the end of the season, Savard perfectly embodies the transition in which the Canadian is immersed.
An aspiring team, looking for a solid veteran for the playoffs, could well offer an ideal opportunity for the Canadian to capitalize on his experience.
Because let’s be honest: Montreal needs to think about the future, and that future belongs to players like Hutson, Guhle and Xhekaj.
Last night, even without Matheson and with Savard limited in the third, these young defenders showed they were ready to handle increased responsibilities.
And for them to continue to grow, the team must give them the space to flourish.
“My role here has always been to guide these young people, to show them how to become professionals”added Savard after the meeting.
But his role could soon end. If Kent Hughes really wants to give his youngsters every chance, the best thing to do would be to monetize Savard before the trade deadline.
David Savard is a respected player and a model of professionalism. But in Montreal, the days when CH relied on veterans to hold its blue line seem to be over.
The performance of the defensive brigade last night is proof of this.
The future of the Canadian belongs to its young people, and for them, it is perhaps time to turn the page on the David Savard era.
To be continued…
