Defenseman David Savard has signed a five-year contract extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets worth $21.25 million. Savard has played the last two full seasons with the Blue Jackets, and has established himself as one of their core defensive pieces, as he is still only twenty-four years old. The contract gives Savard an Average Annual Value of $4.25 million, and will begin in the 2016-17 NHL season.
Savard saw his ice time increase during the 2014-15 season, and had received some more power play time which helped him produce 36 points in 82 games, the best offensive season so far of his career.
Savard was pleased with the deal, as he tweeted: “I’m really happy to have signed with Columbus for an extra 5 years. Big things ahead”. There certainly are big things ahead for the Columbus Blue Jackets coming into the 2015-16 NHL season. With the exception of the acquisition of Brandon Saad from the Chicago Blackhawks, extending the contract of David Savard has been arguably the next most important transaction that the Blue Jackets have done this offseason.
Savard will be under contract up until the 2020-21 NHL season. The Blue Jackets have one of the brightest futures in the NHL, as the extension of Savard’s contract keeps him with other young players in the organization including Ryan Johansen, Boone Jenner, Alexander Wennberg, Ryan Murray, and the aforementioned Brandon Saad. Columbus has a lot to look forward to as this young group of players is putting them on the radar as future contenders.
Savard is a solid top 4 defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and could potentially reach 40 points in the 2015-16 season for the first time in his career as long as he stays healthy and plays to the best of his abilities. Savard is one of the more underrated defenseman in the NHL, and ensuring him as a part of the club is important for the Blue Jackets in order to strengthen their defenseive core.
COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 28: David Savard #58 of the Columbus Blue Jackets is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal during the game against the Ottawa Senators on October 28, 2014 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
