David Savard knows his NHL career is coming to a close.
But with the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs, he doesn’t know exactly when he’ll hang up his skates.
The veteran defenceman revealed Friday that he’s playing his last NHL season and plans to retire after Montreal`s playoff run, calling it a perfect swan song after three seasons of missing the post-season with his boyhood team.
“I`m just happy I got to be in Montreal and finally make the playoffs,” he said, as the Canadiens prepared for a first-round series against the Capitals beginning Monday in Washington. `It`s pretty cool to be able to do it in Montreal, at home, in front of your family.
“I was a fan growing up, and to be able to wear the jersey in a playoff run, it`s gonna be special.`
The 34-year-old from Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., arrived in Montreal via free agency in July 2021 after helping the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup over the Canadiens in five games. His four-year, $14-million contract expires at the end of this season.
Savard joined a Canadiens team coming off a run to the final, but the club quickly shifted to a rebuild after a disastrous start to the 2021-22 season led to widespread organizational changes.
His wife and three kids sat on Montreal`s bench during warm-up when the Canadiens hosted the Carolina Hurricanes in what could have been his last game Wednesday.
Montreal, however, won 4-2 in the regular-season finale to punch its ticket into the playoffs and extend Savard`s career.
“We`re playing for a lot, and obviously we want to prolong his career,” said captain Nick Suzuki. “It was nice to share that moment with him, that it wasn`t going to be his last game.
“He`s really loved in the room, and he`s been a big part of this rebuild and been someone to look up to for a lot of guys.”
The Canadiens open their first-round series against the top-seeded Washington Capitals on Monday at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, with live coverage available on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
