Last year, the Edmonton Oilers fell just short of winning their sixth Stanley Cup. They started this season slow, but are now comfortably in a playoff spot and looking to once again compete for the Cup. But in order to do so, they’ll need to address their most glaring weakness: the second-pairing right defenseman.
Finn Marceau of The Hockey News lists the Edmonton Oilers as a potential landing spot for a Stanley Cup Champion defenseman that is currently on the trade block.
David Savard plays for the Montreal Canadiens, and is on an expiring contract where he makes $3.5 million per year. He’s 34, and has 232 points in 823 career games. The Canadiens are currently the 30th place team in the league, which suggests that they’ll once again be sellers at this year’s trade deadline.
Why it would work
The Oilers allow an average of 3.23 goals per game, which is tied for tenth most in the league. What this means is that Edmonton clearly needs a few more players who are committed to playing defense. David Savard leads the Canadiens in blocked shots with 74 in 28 games. The Oilers have just the 26th ranked penalty kill in the league, which currently has a 73.2% success rate. Savard would be an upgrade on the right side for either one of Edmonton’s penalty killing units.
Why it wouldn’t work
The Edmonton Oilers already have the oldest team in the league with an average age of 30.08, and Savard would only add to that. This is also the last year on his contract, so if Edmonton is looking for a long-term upgrade to their second-pairing right defense, that’s not Savard.
What he would cost
Savard is a pending Unrestricted Free Agent, which means he would likely just be a rental. But he’s still a right shot defenseman, and those don’t come cheap. He’s also an established veteran, with a Stanley Cup under his belt. He would probably cost a second-round pick and a decent prospect.
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