During an offseason defined by change, David Savard remains a steady force on the defensive side of the puck for the Blue Jackets.
Coming in at 227 pounds, Savard provides a big body on the back end to fend off opposing forwards.
Savard is the oldest defenseman on the current roster, turning 29 this upcoming October and has played in the previous 27 postseason games for Columbus; spanning over the last four appearances back go 2014.
He provides a veteran presence on the second defensive pairing for a unit that's led by the youthful duo of Seth Jones and Zach Werenski.
Savard's Year
Savard's season was, well, average for his standards–which is nothing to complain about.
| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PS | PIM | SH | GWG | TOI | CF% | oZS% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 19 | 6.2 | 36 | 124 | 1 | 19:45 | 49.6 | 45.0 |
His eight goals on the season were the second best output of his career in Columbus and the rating of plus- 19 can't be overlooked; as the Jackets were successful more times than not with Savard on the ice.
While the regular-season numbers weren't anything to shy away from, Savard stood out even more in the postseason. In 10 playoff games for the Blue Jackets, Savard had an average time on ice (ATOI) of 23:42, added the first postseason goal (as seen below) to his resume, and racked up a couple of assists as well.
Known for being reliable on the back end, Savard also showed he's capable of chip in on the offensive end here and there during the 2018-19 season while not missing a single contest.
Highlight of the Campaign
Outlook
Savard is signed through the 2020-21 season with a $4.25 million average annual value (AAV).
Columbus' defensive core is a team strength and Savard is a key piece to it.
As long as Savard can continue to produce similar results to what we've seen over the past few years as well as be a serviceable option on the penalty kill, the Blue Jackets will be more than happy with what he brings to the table as a part of the second defensive pairing.
