The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded defenseman David Savard to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2021 first-round pick and a 2022 third-round pick. The Detroit Red Wings were also involved:
Here’s the three-way trade between Tampa, Detroit and Columbus landing Savard in Tampa ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/ZCVCpaogkR
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) April 10, 2021
TRADE: We have acquired a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft from Tampa Bay in exchange for D David Savard.#CBJ | @Huntington_Bank
Details ⬇️https://t.co/U68MXmm4WI
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 10, 2021
This is the end of an era, with Savard being one of two players (along with Cam Atkinson) still remaining from the 2011-12 season. He played 597 games in a Blue Jackets sweater, good for fourth all-time in franchise history, and first among defensemen.
Despite being a strong shutdown defender for most of his career, Savard’s game began to deteriorate this season, with the worst 5v5 shot attempt percentage of his career as a full-time player (44.21%), and an abysmal 26.79 goals for percentage (44.87 xGF%). Savard is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
Thanks for the memories, Savy, and best of luck in Tampa Bay!