Saying the Tampa Bay Lightning are a team that still wants to add a defenseman before the April 12th NHL Trade Deadline, Elliotte Friedman called the Lightning the “stealth team” that he believes is in on blueliner David Savard from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Noting that the Lightning are still battling it out in the Central Division and likely the favorites to defend as Stanley Champions, he suggested it wouldn’t be easy for the Lightning to make the deal and they’ll have to move some stuff around to add Savard, but he’s probably on the move out of Columbus and Friedman believes Tampa Bay thinks they can win it again if they add the right piece.
Chris Johnston said he loves that theory and added, “It makes sense that defense would be the top priority” because the Lightning have had to go fairly deep in to their pool of players at times this season. He added that playing the 8th or 9th or 10th guy on the blue line worked for them last year. Savard would be a nice fit, forcing the Lightning not to have to stretch so thin.
Savard Situation is Interesting
Savard has become one of the more interesting names to watch heading into the deadline as he’s moved up the trade bait board because the Nashville Predators are in the playoff conversation and it’s not a certainty Mattias Ekholm gets moved. For many teams, Savard is next down the lineup of defenseman to look at and there’s no reason to think the Blue Jackets will overreach in terms of the asking price to acquire him.
Friedman does make an interesting point that the Lightning don’t have the ability to just go out and add more salary if they don’t do other things first.
And, as other teams might be less thrilled about Savard than Tampa — see the Winnipeg Jets who have him lower on their priority list –, there might not be as much competition to land the player as originally believed.
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