David Savard

David Savard (born October 22, 1990) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was selected in the fourth round, 94th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2009 NHL entry draft. Savard also played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2021, and Montreal Canadiens.

Playing career

Early years

Born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Savard played in the 2003 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Collège Antoine-Girouard as well as the Richelieu Éclaireurs in 2004. He, along with the Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QMAAA), finished third overall at the 2007 Telus Cup.

Junior

Savard was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL entry draft after his second season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) where he was known as a reliable defenceman with strong defensive skills.

The following QMJHL season, Savard began to support more in an offensive aspect, aiming to become a more complete player. Consequently, he was awarded many league trophies at year's end, including the Émile Bouchard Trophy as the best defensive defenceman, and the Kevin Lowe Trophy awarded to the best overall QMJHL defenceman, while finishing first in league scoring among defencemen and establishing a QMJHL record for assists at his position.

In the same year, Savard was selected to participate in the Subway Super Series, wearing a Quebec jersey in the tournament. He was also named the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Defenceman of the Year, recognizing his remarkable QMJHL season with the Moncton Wildcats in which they captured the President's Cup championship en route to a berth in the 2010 Memorial Cup.

Professional

Columbus Blue Jackets

In October 2010, while still eligible for major junior hockey, the Blue Jackets assigned Savard to play with the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Springfield Falcons, where he finished as the team's top-scoring defenceman and second among all rookie blueliners leaguewide. He again joined the AHL ranks to begin the 2011–12 season.

On February 7, 2012, Savard scored his first career NHL goal against Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Bäckström. After playing 31 games during the 2011–12 NHL season at the age of 21, he was slowed by an injury suffered in December 2012, shortly before the league lockout resolution. Thereafter, Savard spent the majority of the 2012–13 season with Springfield.

In July 2013, as a restricted free agent, Savard was re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Blue Jackets organization.

Savard played his first full NHL season with the Blue Jackets for the 2013–14 campaign, registering 15 points in 70 games. On July 5, 2014, he signed a two-year contract extension with the team.

On September 15, 2015, Savard inked a five-year, $21.25 million contract extension with the Blue Jackets. During the 2016–17 season, he would effectively set a franchise record in plus–minus at +33.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Entering the final year of his contract in the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Savard collected one goal and six points through 40 regular-season games played. Approaching the annual NHL trade deadline, Savard was involved in a three-way trade involving Columbus, the Detroit Red Wings, and eventual destination Tampa Bay Lightning. He and the Lightning would then go on to win the Stanley Cup, with Savard contributing five points in 20 playoff games, including an assist on Ross Colton's series-clinching goal in Game 5 of that year's Stanley Cup Finals.

Montreal Canadiens and retirement

Following his Stanley Cup run with the Lightning, Savard opted to test free agency, securing a four-year, $14 million deal with the Montreal Canadiens on July 28, 2021. Drawing into the Canadiens' lineup amidst team captain and fellow bluneliner Shea Weber being placed on long-term injured reserve, Savard was regarded as part of the attempt to compensate for the foregoing's loss. Despite this, he antithetically became a focus of criticism from fans after what was an historically poor season for the team overall. On January 29, 2022, it was announced that Savard would miss eight weeks of the 2021–22 season due to an ankle injury. While injury likewise plagued his 2022–23 production, Savard received recognition as the team's annual recipient of the Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy, awarded to the player deemed to have had a dominant role during the course of the regular season. At the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, Savard was again named recipient of the Jacques Beauchamp-Molson Trophy, becoming just the fourth player in franchise history to accomplish this feat in consecutive years.

During the 2024–25 season, he skated in his 800th career NHL game, joining a select few from his respective draft class to reach this milestone. Shortly after the Canadiens secured their berth in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, Savard announced that he would retire at the end of his team's respective postseason run, which culminated following their first-round series defeat by the Washington Capitals on April 30, 2025.

International play

Savard was a member of Canada's gold medal-clinching team at the 2015 World Championships, where they won for the first time since 2007 with a perfect 10-0 record.

Personal life

Savard married his longtime girlfriend, fellow Québécois Valerie Lachance, in their home province during the 2018 offseason. The couple has three children: Emma, Elliot and Zachary.

He is the youngest of three siblings.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honours

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Savard, David
1990 births
Living people
Baie-Comeau Drakkar players
Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Canadian ice hockey defencemen
Columbus Blue Jackets draft picks
Columbus Blue Jackets players
Ice hockey people from Saint-Hyacinthe
Moncton Wildcats players
Montreal Canadiens players
Springfield Falcons players
Stanley Cup champions
Tampa Bay Lightning players
21st-century Canadian sportsmen