It’s no secret the Montreal Canadiens possess one of the deepest young defensive prospect pools in the NHL. The likes of Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux, and the recently-signed Adam Engstrom highlight a group already complemented by young established defensemen such as Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj.
David Savard is the oldest member of the Canadiens’ defensive corps at 33 (he’ll turn 34 at the beginning of next season). He enters the 2024-25 season on an expiring contract and will likely be a trade deadline target (if not sooner) for contending teams should the Canadiens be out of the playoff fold. With promising right-handed defenders Mailloux and Reinbacher emerging as viable NHL options for next season, the question remains whether the team should hold on to Savard for his defensive prowess and veteran presence amongst an inexperienced blue line, or move him when the time is right for future assets.
Savard’s Future Is in the Hands of Mailloux/Reinbacher
Mailloux and Reinbacher are the team’s top-two right-handed defense prospects and it will almost certainly stay that way as we approach October. Mailloux has already made his NHL debut, dressing for an recording an assist in the final game of the regular season. Reinbacher impressed in his brief audition with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Laval Rocket, and both will be give the opportunity to compete for a roster spot come training camp next season.
Related: Canadiens Prospect Logan Mailloux to Make NHL Debut
The team may choose to be more lenient and patient with Reinbacher, as he’s several years younger and was just drafted in 2023. His chances of opening the season with the big club rely heavily on his progression over the course of the summer and how he shows up to training camp. Conversely, Mailloux has already gained a full season of professional experience with the Rocket and quickly became one of the best offensive defensemen in the AHL despite being just 20 years old for the majority of the season.
The most likely scenario in which Savard is dealt elsewhere prior to next season is in the event that general manager (GM) Kent Hughes and company are confident enough in the abilities of Mailloux and/or Reinbacher. If the team is confident enough that either of those two are NHL-ready, it will create a further logjam on defense which Hughes may need to take action to unclog.
Cap Situation and Free Agent Pool Encourages Hughes to Be Patient
The Canadiens have virtually no…
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