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Does David Savard need to rest?
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Does David Savard need to rest?
Credit: The question many people are asking right now is: who will give up their spot in the Canadiens lineup when Kaiden Guhle is ready to return to play? It’s not imminent (certainly not this week), but it’s getting closer and closer. Unless the Canadiens go with an 11-7 format (Joshua Roy and Emil Heineman would […]
The question many people are asking right now is: who will give up their spot in the Canadiens lineup when Kaiden Guhle is ready to return to play?

It’s not imminent (certainly not this week), but it’s getting closer and closer.

Unless the Canadiens go with an 11-7 format (Joshua Roy and Emil Heineman would be the candidates… but I don’t believe it if everyone is healthy), it will be a defenseman.

Lane Hutson, Alexandre Carrier, and Mike Matheson will not be taken out of the lineup.

It’s time to give some respect to Matheson, who is the most important defenseman for the Canadiens right now. He plays big minutes, and if Kent Hughes can really give him $20 million over four years, he should do it.

So, we agree that it’s between David Savard, Jayden Struble, and Arber Xhekaj.

My first thought is to think of Xhekaj. Not because he deserves it, but because he plays less than Struble, who forms an excellent duo with Lane Hutson, and because the two are left-handed.

But if we look at it a little further, until the end of the regular season, it could be a kind of rotation between the three guys.

In the playoffs, if that happens, I see Savard playing. But until then, is it possible to think about giving a defenseman who is slowing down a bit of rest?

It’s often said that if Savard returns in 2025-2026, it would be as a depth defenseman who isn’t guaranteed to play every game. We say that because of his play this year.

So, it’s not far-fetched to think that he could use some rest right now.

Of course, Savard won’t raise his hand to ask for time off. But having him sit out a game or two should be considered by the head coach when Guhle returns. A few days off could help him be more on his game when he comes back.

But we’ll see about that in due time.


Overtime

– Ah yes?

– Big move in Washington.

– Good listen.

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