Morphing from a top prospect to a player with high-end shutdown ability, Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard has changed his game multiple times over.
Savard was voted the CHL's defenseman of the year in 2009-10, more so for his offensive skills than for what he did on the back end. And the award was justified: Savard scored well over a point per game and helped lead his team, the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), to a Memorial Cup championship.
Jumping to the AHL and then the NHL, Savard was viewed more through an offensive lens and as a weapon on the power play. A full season with head coach John Tortorella has changed that, and the transition has made Savard into a different player. It resulted in Savard's best season as a pro; while he only had 23 points in 2016-17, his shot differential was the best in his career (especially considering the amount of defensive zone starts he was given).
Savard knows the coming season is only going to be more difficult than the previous, and that preparation is will be key as the Blue Jackets look to take another step forward as an emerging contender.
"I think we gotta play hard out there," Savard said earlier this week. "We're not here to have fun. Everybody's competing for jobs."
Savard's hard work was a key reason why the Blue Jackets were able to succeed in 2016-17. Steady play with a regular defense partner in Jack Johnson, on top of the depth he provided, made sure that Columbus was rarely outmatched defensively.
More of the same is going to be needed now. Practice pairings have Savard back with Johnson once again, complementing the No. 1 pair of Zach Werenski and Seth Jones. The hope is the two can replicate their magic once again and be defensive specialists capable of handling the tough assignments.
"We still have to play hard, get ready for the season," said Savard. "On Tuesday, we're right back against another team. We gotta get ready for it."
