ALL HABS | NHL TEAM | MONTREAL CANADIENS

Trade between the Dallas Stars and the Montreal Canadiens involving a fan favorite: The name of David Savard is circulating in Dallas

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David St-Jean
December 31, 2023 (11:57)

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Since the Canadiens entered a rebuilding phase, there have been numerous trades involving veterans, and there could be more to come. The question now is what strategy Kent Hughes will adopt.

Despite the two recent losses after the Christmas break, the Canadiens are only five points away from a playoff spot, and there is still more than half the season to go. If the team manages to string together some wins, Kent Hughes might find himself as a buyer rather than a seller.

It would still be surprising, given that the GM repeatedly emphasizes sticking to the plan of building the team for the future rather than the immediate. In this context, the next high-value veteran who could be on the move is David Savard.

"I had the temptation to aim high and ask for a top-4 defenseman, and that would be ideal, but just a right-handed defenseman capable of staying in the lineup would suffice, at a minimum.

The Stars' blue line has been inconsistent, and the team is still having a decent season despite that. But when the expectations are the Stanley Cup, imperfections are scrutinized under a more rigorous microscope.

Even if Miro Heiskanen stays on his non-natural side, and Jani Hakanpää keeps his place in the lineup, the Stars could really use a third regular NHL defenseman on the right side."

He's a very underrated player, extremely valuable to a team with his leadership, work ethic, and more recently, his ability to contribute offensively.

It would be a significant loss for Martin St-Louis's squad, but the return could be very enticing. We're talking about a first-round pick and another third-round pick. Kent Hughes now has the luxury of choice, whether to trade him this year or next since Savard still has another season left on his contract in Montreal.

Previously on All Habs

Memorable moment from young Lane Hutson: "he won a wrestling match."

Samuel Montembeault temporarily left the Montreal Canadiens organization to wait for them in Tampa Bay

Michael Pezzetta engages in an intense fight and gets the crowd going in Florida

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31 DECEMBRE \| 990 ANSWERS Trade between the Dallas Stars and the Montreal Canadiens involving a fan favorite: The name of David Savard is circulating in Dallas Would you like Savard to stay with the Canadiens until next year?
Yes	484	48.9 %
No	506	51.1 %
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