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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Moving Savard Makes No Sense


Ever since Marc Savard stepped onto the ice in Boston, he ended each season leading the team in total points, except for this past season. With this season as an aberration (due to injury), Savard will look to get back on track and once again lead the Bruins in points.

There's a problem though: The Bruins are aggressively shopping Savy to other teams in the NHL.

What I don't get is why. This past season it was clear that Savard was the power play. When he was out with injury, the power play was virtually invisible. In 41 games played, Savard ranked 4th (tied for 3rd actually) on Boston with 6 power play goals. In face, the leader in power play goals only had 8 (Recchi). If you include assists (11 for Savy), he led the Bruins in power play points with 17.

It's obvious that Boston held (and may still hold) Savard in high standing because they offered him a 7 year contract with a no movement clause in it. If Boston didn't think Savard could be the offensive centerpiece, then why sign him to such a long contract where he can reject any and all trades that come his way?

It makes absolutely no sense.

The other thing I can't understand is moving Savard when the pieces are seemingly coming together. After a trade for Nathan Horton (a 20 goal scorer in his own right) and the eventual drafting of Taylor Hall/Tyler Seguin, Savard is getting the pieces needed to become an elite playmaker again.

So why move him?

I don't want to hear about his contract because Chiarelli has signed some expensive contracts that look bad. Guys like Thomas and Lucic are prime examples of being overpaid for their services. Savard actually warrants his contract extension.

Another issue I have are the allusions to Savard going to Toronto for Kaberle.

A) I don't believe Chiarelli would deal Savard within the division, let alone re-unite him with Kessel.
B) The Bruins don't need defense. Mark Stuart and Johnny Boychuk are still unsigned restricted free agents. Boychuk will come to Boston at a low cost, but in the end BOTH of them are attainable. Signing both gives us a top 6 of: Zdeno Chara, Mark Stuart, Johnny Boychuk, Matt Hunwick, Andrew Ference and Dennis Seidenberg with guys like Adam McQuaid in Providence who can be used as a 7th defenseman. Seidenberg is the "puck moving defenceman" that the Bruins need, not Kaberle.

Whatever the case is, there are players on this roster that should be traded over Savard, whether it is a clear salary dump or not.

2 comments:

  1. Yes! Keep Savvy. Isn't his contract fairly cap-friendly? Unless they're going after a super-star I'll be bummed to see him go.

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  2. I can believe that they are seriously considering moving Savvy. This would be one of the biggest boneheaded moves in NHL history.

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