David Savard

David Savard (born October 22, 1990) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was selected in the fourth round, 94th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2009 NHL entry draft. Savard also played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2021, and Montreal Canadiens. Born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Savard played in the 2003 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Collège Antoine-Girouard as well as the Richelieu Éclaireurs in 2004. He, along with the Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QMAAA), finished third overall at the 2007 Telus Cup. Savard was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL entry draft after his second season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) where he was known as a reliable defenceman with strong defensive skills. The following QMJHL season, Savard began to support more in an offensive aspect, aiming to become a more complete player. Consequently, he was awarded many league trophies at year's end, including the Émile Bouchard Trophy as the best defensive defenceman, and the Kevin Lowe Trophy awarded to the best overall QMJHL defenceman, while finishing first in league scoring among defencemen and establishing a QMJHL record for assists at his position. In the same year, Savard was selected to participate in the Subway Super Series, wearing a Quebec jersey in the tournament. He was also named the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Defenceman of the Year, recognizing his remarkable QMJHL season with the Moncton Wildcats in which they captured the President's Cup championship en route to a berth in the 2010 Memorial Cup.