Today the Columbus Hockey Blue Jackets signed David Savard to a five year deal worth 21.25 million dollars in total first reported by Sportsnet’s own Nick Kypreos. Savard was set to be a restricted free agent at the end of his deal, the deal doesn’t start until the 2016-17 season where it will eat up three of his unrestricted free agent years.
It isn’t a well kept secret that the Blue Jackets are big fans of Savard and what he has grown into over the course of the past two years. At one time he was looked at as an expendable piece but was viewed as an untouchable this past trade deadline. He played this past year with Jack Johnson on the first pair a far cry from where he had been the year before on the bottom pairing. He found a lot of his offense this past year on the power play with five goals and fourteen assists. The deal would seemingly enforce that Savard’s role on the team will grow and see more usage on special teams, showing once again they have faith in the Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec native.
https://twitter.com/jmtCBJ/status/641253639416348673
Comparing Savard’s year last year we do see this as a slight over payment but this also isn’t taking into account ELC’s and unrestricted free agent years purchased. A lot of burden will be placed on his shoulders this upcoming season as more minutes come to him, will he be able to live up to the expectations set for him? The Blue Jackets are willing to make that bet.
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