Savard, who hasn’t played in an NHL game since Jan. 22, 2011 due to concussion issues, isn’t likely to mount a comeback attempt any time soon. It's expected that he’ll be placed on long-term injured reserve by the Bruins to free up salary cap space.
The gifted playmaker is not being counted on by the Bruins to ever suit up with the team again, as he continues to deal with post-concussion symptoms.
When healthy, Savard is an extremely talented playmaker, but his ongoing battle with post-concussion syndrome poses a serious threat to his playing future. At this point, we'd be surprised to see him suit up this coming season.
A Grade 2 concussion that Savard suffered this past March limited the Bruins’ top center to 33 points in 41 games in 2009-10. The team’s addition of blue-chip center prospect Tyler Seguin in June’s draft, coupled with the fact that the B’s are in a major salary cap jam, has led to speculation that Savard might be dealt to free up some much-needed money. In any case, when healthy (and he should be entering the upcoming season), Savard is a gifted playmaker who is a lock to be at or above the point-a-game mark, provided he isn’t swapped to an offensively-challenged team. He’s not the most tenacious defensive forward around, but with a sound defensive team on the upswing like the Bruins, he can put up solid plus-minus numbers. Assuming Savard is not traded, then he’d pivot one of the Bruins’ scoring lines -- with the talented David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron also centering trios -- and Seguin starting out the season as a winger, assuming he makes the team.
The Bruins’ playmaking center is coming off another productive season that saw him rack up 88 points (ninth in the NHL) and compile a nifty plus-25 rating, a by-product of his increased dedication to playing a more complete game. He’ll once again center the B’s top line and will see plenty of power play duty, so he’s a lock for at least a point per game. It’s worth noting that Savard will be playing for his next contract and his first 100-point campaign would be a nice bargaining chip.
With Savard you are getting a point/PIM per game guy, who is one of the NHL's premier playmakers. In fact, he probably would have led the league in helpers last season if he hadn't missed the B's final seven games with a back injury. Healthy again, he'll be counted on to spearhead the team's power-play unit and will be counted on to provide veteran stability alongside the team's promising group of young forwards.
Savard exceeded expectations last season, recording 96 points without the benefit of having anyone named Kovalchuk or Hossa on his line. Savard's proving himself to be one of the NHL's elite playmakers. Look for similar numbers this year.
Savard is a fast and feisty playmaker that brings instant credibility to the Bruins' second line … at least in the offensive zone. Savard is very easily a point-a-game player who'll try to carry sniper Glen Murray out of his "I miss my Joe" funk. But, Savard is virtually transparent in his own zone, which means he'll burn you in plus-minus in a big way. This season will show us whether Savard is a man capable of carrying his teammates or a boy who must be helped along (really, how much of an influence do you think Ilya Kovalchuk had on Savard's career?). Draft carefully and if you land him, be prepared to trade him before the deadline. Last season, his game fell apart in the final third of the year (just four goals in 27 games and a fishing boat full of stupid interference-type penalties).
Many have noticed Savard’s offensive game – he had the second most points per game in the league last season -- but he also has a feisty side with 85 PIMs in each of the last two years. With Bobby Holik in the mix Savard will no longer have to shoulder all of Atlanta’s centering duties. Luckily, this should not have a major effect on his performance as he will still have a pair of talented wingers on either side of him -- most likely Marian Hossa and Slava Kozlov -- as well as receiving lots of time on the power play. The biggest thing the Thrashers are hoping for is a full healthy season from their number one center.
