David Savard injury: What happened to Montreal Canadiens defenseman?

Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard faces an indefinite absence from the ice due to an upper-body injury. The 33-year-old defenseman left Monday's game, which ended in a 3-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres, and unfortunately did not return.

The Canadiens were in the 11th minute of the third period, holding onto a narrow 2-1 lead and defending against a penalty kill. In a pivotal play, Savard exhibited remarkable bravery by positioning himself directly in the path of a powerful one-timer shot from Buffalo's Tage Thompson. The full force of the shot struck Savard's forearm, causing the injury that has sidelined him indefinitely.

What makes Savard's play even more impressive is that he didn't back down even after suffering the initial injury. Despite the pain and discomfort, the 33-year-old defenseman returned to block Thompson's shot once again mere seconds later.

During the game, Savard had accumulated 16 minutes and 54 seconds of ice time, but his second block further exacerbated his injury. In the process, the force of the shot knocked off one of Savard's skate blades, rendering him virtually helpless for the next 30 seconds of play.

The Montreal Canadiens, faced with the absence of their stalwart defenseman, had to take immediate action. In response to the injury, the club announced the emergency call-up of Gustav Lindstrom from the AHL affiliate, Laval Rocket. Lindstrom's presence is expected to help fill the void left by Savard's absence on the blue line.

A look at David Savard's NHL career

David Savard began with the Columbus Blue Jackets, spending time in the AHL with the Springfield Falcons to refine his skills. In the 2011-12 season, Savard made his mark, scoring his first NHL goal. However, an injury in December 2012 slightly hindered his progress, but he persevered, participating in the shortened 2012-13 season.

Savard's commitment to the Blue Jackets was evident when he signed a two-year contract extension in 2014. In 2015, he inked a five-year, $21.25 million deal, leading the NHL in plus-minus during the 2016-17 season.

In the 2020-21 season, Savard's tenure with the Blue Jackets ended with a three-way trade that sent him to the Tampa Bay Lightning. His arrival proved crucial as he played a pivotal role in helping the Lightning secure the Stanley Cup.

Following his championship win, Savard moved to the Montreal Canadiens on a four-year, $14 million contract in 2021. Despite facing criticism during a challenging season for the Canadiens, he continued to be a resilient presence on the ice. Unfortunately, in January 2022, an ankle injury sidelined him for eight weeks.