NHL Source: Canadiens David Savard "Will Likely be Moved” In Near Future

The Montreal Canadiens will certainly be one of the teams to watch as we get closer to the trade deadline, and at the top of the list of tradeable assets would be veteran defenseman David Savard (just like he was last season, though the Habs held on to him).

According to Marco D'Amico in rg.com, Savard will be most in demand from amongst Montreal players. As an available right-shot defensemen on an expiring contract, he stands out around the league, with other names like Cody Ceci, Jan Rutta, Dante Fabbro and Erik Johnson populating that list.

Two NHL sources raved to D'Amico about Savard:

He’s a Cup-winning, top 4, right-shot defenseman. I don’t know if we’d necessarily pay a 1st-round pick for him, but another team with real Cup aspirations surely could without anyone raising an eyebrow. From what I’m hearing and seeing, Savard will likely be moved.

He’s a shot-blocking machine and someone you can stick on your 2nd or 3rd pair in a pinch. That’s worth gold in the playoffs.

According to D'Amico, the Habs haven't made a decision yet on Savard, but as a 34-year-old, and with the team not wanting to trade any of their young pieces, it almost seems like a certainty that he'll be moved.

In fact, one of the sources indicated that it could happen much sooner than the trade deadline.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if, like Sean Monahan (last year), the Canadiens try to make a move early in the season to avoid the risk of injury."

Savard's time on ice has been slightly reduced this season, perhaps another attempt by the Habs to protect their greatest trade asset. He's at 18:43 TOI per game, his lowest number since his 3rd season, 11 years ago. He has blocked 48 shots in 18 games, which puts him in the top 10 league-wide this year.

Savard is in his 14th NHL season, and helped the Tampa Bay Lightning to the 2021 Stanley Cup title.

The Edmonton Oilers are one team that's already been linked to having interest in Savard, per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.