David Savard Traded Back to His Former Team? It Appears to Be a Likely Scenario

As has been the case for several years, the Tampa Bay Lightning will undoubtedly be a team to watch for another big move by GM Julien BriseBois.

Following Tanner Jeannot in 2023, Brandon Hagel in 2022, David Savard in 2021, and Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow in 2020, the Lightning is likely to make another significant trade to bolster their depth.

This season, the team's Achilles heel is their defense. Apart from Victor Hedman, Erik Cernak, and Mikhail Sergachev (who is on the injured list), the team's depth on the blue line is lacking.

BriseBois is well aware of this, and according to what has just been reported by insider David Pagnotta, Tampa is carefully considering adding an additional defensive pillar.

As excellently reported by Marc-Olivier Beaudoin, a very obvious "fit" could be made between the Florida organization and the Montreal Canadiens for the services of David Savard.

In the past, we know very well that the Lightning's GM never hesitates to pay a high price to make wise acquisitions for his team. Given the limited cap space and the excellent contract of the Quebec defenseman, which is valid for another season, he is undoubtedly a prime target for them.

Savard's on-ice performance is exceptional this season, and he is exactly the kind of addition the Lightning needs for the end of the season.

In connection with a potential trade between the two teams for Savard's services, two young players are targeted by the Lightning: Isaac Howard and Niko Huuhtanen.

Here's a profile of the prospects potentially targeted by the CH:

A first-round pick in 2022, 31st overall, Howard is a 5-foot-10 winger with interesting offensive potential. He could develop into a top-6 player with two attack-minded line mates. He has 22 points in 24 games in his second season in the NCAA.

Huuhtanen, who is 20 years old, is a big 6-foot-2, 210-pound power forward with good offensive potential. Despite his young age in Finland's top professional league, he has 15 goals and 41 points in 43 games in the Liiga.