No. 1: David Savard ($4.25M)
Savard is the perfect top-four defenseman to join the Leafs right now. If you remember the NHL Bubble and the playoff series between Columbus and Toronto, Savard was a beast.
When the playoffs start, the team that is harder and tougher to play against typically wins. Savard will immediately help that tough part, as he’s someone no player wants to see in the corner. He’s especially not a defender you want to go up against when the referees take their whistle away near the end of a game.
At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Savard plays a similar role to Jake Muzzin. Instead of going with a Holl-Muzzin duo, a Savard-Muzzin tandem would be one of the scariest pairings in the NHL. They’d be an absolute force to play against in the playoffs.
Savard’s teammate, Zach Werenski, described his game perfectly (via: Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatcher)
"“You just know what you’re going to get out of him every single night. He’s a guy who’s going to block shots, be physical, be good defensively. He doesn’t really score too much, but he has kind of an offensive touch to him. He can make plays. In all situations, Savy’s a rock for our back end, and he’s been a huge part of this team for a long time.”"
Toronto doesn’t need a defenseman who can score. They need someone who’s a fierce competitor and stop pucks from going into the back of the net.
If them Toronto Maple Leafs can make one trade before the deadline, they need to acquire Savard.