Although the Montreal Canadiens are currently vying for a playoff spot, General Manager Kent Hughes must continue working on rebuilding the team. With the emergence of players like Jayden Struble and the presence of regular defenders such as Kaiden Guhle, Michael Matheson, David Savard, Jordan Harris, Justin Barron, and Jonathan Kovacevic, Hughes has to manage an already well-stocked defensive roster.
Eric Engels, a journalist for Sportsnet, has examined David Savard's situation. He believes the Canadiens should consider trading him relatively soon. Savard, 33 years old, is a stabilizing force for the CH, a key player in penalty killing, an underrated offensive contributor, and a strong leader.
Savard's performance since his return from injury has been impressive, but Engels points out that his trade value might be too tempting for the Canadiens to keep him. This could allow young talents in the organization, such as Lane Hutson and Arber Xhekaj, to develop.
David Pagnotta suggested that Hughes could get a return similar to what he received for Ben Chiarot, which could include a first-round pick, a fourth-round pick, and a prospect. Such a return would be significant for a 33-year-old defender and would offer Hughes other options to improve the team.
