Canadiens looking at options to replace Shea Weber

Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin has a difficult task ahead of him this off-season and that is to replace captain Shea Weber. It's going to be extremely difficult to replace Weber's presence and leadership, but the Habs need to find a player or two who will eat up his ice time, which was on average just under 23 minutes a night.

During Thursday's edition of Insider Trading on TSN, Pierre LeBrun brought up a couple of names the Canadiens could have their eyes on.

"Well another Canadian team, the Montreal Canadiens, Darren also in that ‘D' market right now. Marc Bergevin, the GM of the Habs, confirming what we were reporting earlier this week, that replacing Shea Weber in some form or other. Can't really replace Shea Weber but going out and getting a ‘D' is certainly a top priority for the Montreal Canadiens. We know that they talked to the Buffalo Sabres about Rasmus Ristolainen but there are other irons in the fire for Montreal and I think to some degree, some interest in pending UFA David Savard as long as the price isn't exorbitant. So again, look for Montreal to make that a top priority," LeBrun said.

If you aren't aware, Ristolainen was traded early Friday afternoon to the Philadelphia Flyers. You can read more about that here. That makes Savard that much more important for the Habs. Savard is coming off his first Stanley Cup championship and could be a good shutdown option for Montreal. The Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec native spent the 2020-21 season with Columbus and Tampa Bay. In 54 games, he had 6 points (1 G, 5 A), 24 penalty minutes, and was a -27. In 20 playoff games with the Lightning, Savard tallied 5 points (5 A), and 6 penalty minutes.


One option for the Canadiens is to make a deal with Tampa Bay using a mid-round draft pick in order to acquire the rights to Savard, and negotiate a contract right away. If that doesn't work, then they'd have to wait until the free agent market on July 28th.

There is some speculation that the Canadiens may have interest in Tony DeAngelo, who was placed on unconditional waivers Friday for the purpose of buying out his contract. There were rumours Bergevin had at least inquired about trading for him early in the 2020-21 season.

Source: Pierre LeBrun - Insider Trading