Despite having not played since the 2010-11 NHL regular season, Marc Savard is on the move again.
The 38 year-old-centre, still suffering from post-concussion syndrome has been traded to the New Jersey Devils along with the Florida Panthers second round pick in 2018 for Paul Thompson and Graham Black.
#FlaPanthers have acquired Paul Thompson and Graham Black from the @NJDevils. https://t.co/u4cfE1gWQW pic.twitter.com/8hCci7YqXM
— Florida Panthers PR (@FlaPanthersPR) June 10, 2016
Savard last played for the Boston Bruins where he had a seven year contract. Savard suffered several concussions, the last against Matt Hunwick on January 23, 2011. Savard still got his name on the Stanley Cup after the Bruins won in 2011. He was traded to the Florida Panthers along with Reilly Smith for Jimmy Hayes, as having not officially retired, his contract was good for Flordia’s internal cap. Savard’s $4,027,143 will expire at the end of the 2016-17 season. The LTIR cap hit joins Ryane Clowe‘s $4,850,000 cap hit in New Jersey.
Paul Thompson, 27, played three games for the New Jersey Devils with no points. The six feet tall right winger is paid $575,000 for the 2016-17 season before becoming an unrestricted free agent. Thompson was fourth in scoring for the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League in 2015-16, and second in scoring for Albany in 2014-15.
Graham Black, 23, was drafted in the fifth round, 135th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2012. The Saskatchewan native scored 97 points in his overage year with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League but has had trouble finding the net in the American Hockey League with only 23 points in 98 AHL regular season games. The natural centre however had a decent playoffs for Albany with two goals, two assists and four points in five playoff games in 2015-16.
By moving Savard’s contract, the Florida Panthers now have to spend $2,233,335 to make it to the salary cap floor, with $20,833,335 in projected cap space according to General Fanager. The New Jersey Devils need to spend $9,185,359 to make it to the salary cap floor.
