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A first choice for Wallman, a second (and a hope) for Dumoulin: what is Savard worth, then?
Raphael Simard
A first choice for Wallman, a second (and a hope) for Dumoulin: what is Savard worth, then?
Credit: Getty Images
Earlier today, Brian Dumoulin took the road to New Jersey. In return, the Ducks got a second-round pick and a prospect.

Later in the day, the Oilers acquired Jake Wallman for a conditional first-round pick. This transaction is not yet official, but it’s clear that a first-round pick is involved.

I’m not saying David Savard is as good as those two guys, but it seems like a second-round pick is not too much to ask for from the CH. According to Pierre LeBrun, that’s what Kent Hughes is asking for in return for his services.

With the happy sequence in Montreal, does the GM want to trade his right-handed defenseman for a distant second-round pick, even?

The CH is at the door of the playoffs and even if they don’t trade Armia and Savard, trading one would send a bad message to the players, who believe in it more than ever. After all, Montreal already has two second-round picks, including the one from the Penguins, who are going nowhere.

Wallman for a top-32 pick is a lot. It’s not like the Oilers need another defensively poor defenseman…

It seems like a desperate move from Stan Bowman, and who knows, maybe a team will pay just as much for David Savard by tomorrow… Maybe the Oilers will see Savard in action up close tonight and say, “we must get our hands on a guy who is excellent defensively like him.”

But for Montreal, that would leave a big hole. The 58 has 134 blocked shots this season (he’s 10th in the NHL in that regard) and plays 17:43 minutes per game. Before the game, Benoit Brunet also mentioned that with Kaiden Guhle’s injury, it changes the situation: Savard comes to stabilize this young and very inexperienced defensive line.

Will Kent Hughes get a first-round pick for Savard? Probably not (I lean towards “no”). Can he trade him at a good price? Certainly. But a trade would come with its own set of negatives.


Rapid Fire

– To be continued.

– No victory for Victory. I’ve been waiting a long time for this play on words.

– A return to Montreal for him?

– He never stops.

– He should be a GM.

– Very impressive.

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