Canadiens make announcement on Maple Leafs trade target

Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard. David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Canadiens make major announcement on Maple Leafs trade target David Savard

Originally posted on Hockey Patrol | By Chris Gerics | Last updated Mar 6, 2025 12:44 PM ET

With the Toronto Maple Leafs only a couple of days away from the trade deadline, a new update regarding a potential candidate has led to even more pressure.

Given that Brad Treliving and the Leafs have struck out on adding quite a few important pieces to their lineup, the pressure is on the GM to make some type of move as the trade deadline nears and other teams improve while he sits idly by.

Though no doubt he's working on something, it's not enough to satisfy fans. His job also might get a bit more difficult if he wanted to look toward heated rival Montreal in order to get some help on the blue line by acquiring David Savard.

The Stanley Cup winner has been linked to Toronto for a couple of months and while he would undoubtedly bring the defensive shutdown presence the team needs, the Leafs have to act quickly.

On TSN's Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun revealed that Montreal GM Kent Hughes is not going to trade both David Savard and Joel Armia, so if the Leafs want to get Savard, they'll have to make sure they get him before another team picks up him or Armia.

LeBrun also notes the price needs to be higher than a fourth-round pick given that the Canadiens already possess two this year, and are looking to add to their team now.

Savard, 34, won a Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2021 and is enjoying a fairly decent season with Montreal, although some of his numbers are down from his previous years.

In 55 games he has 12 points (1G, 11A) and a minus-7 rating while adding 134 blocks in only 17:43 of ice time.

The 14-year veteran has 239 points in 850 games (54G, 185A) playing with Columbus, Tampa Bay and Montreal.

If Toronto wants to acquire Savard, it need to act quickly and part with a player who the Canadiens deem suitable to their long-term plans. And that's if Kent Hughes is even open to making a deal with his bitter rivals.

There are a lot of factors involved in getting Savard on the Maple Leafs, and it might be too much of an ask.

But if Brad Treliving is quick enough, then he can find a way to add some additional help to his already improved blue line.

This article first appeared on Hockey Patrol and was syndicated with permission.

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