Habs nab Stanley Cup winner Savard; other free agents up for grabs
The Montreal Canadiens have landed a Stanley Cup-winning defenceman, signing free agent David Savard on Wednesday.
The Habs said Savard's four-year contract carries an average annual value of US$3.5 million.
Savard, 30, finished last season in Tampa Bay after the Columbus Blue Jackets dealt him to the Lightning at the trade deadline in April.
The six-foot-two, 233-pound blue liner had six points (one goal, five assists) in 54 regular-season appearances and added another five helpers in 20 playoff appearances.
Columbus selected Savard, a native of St-Hyacinthe, Que., in the fourth round (94th overall) of the 2009 entry draft and he spent 10 seasons with the Blue Jackets before moving to the Lightning.
The Tricolore also gave a one-season, $950,000 contract to forward Cedric Paquette from Gaspe shortly after the free agent market opened on Wednesday.
Four other Canadian clubs kicked off the NHL's free agency period with a flurry of trades Wednesday.
The Ottawa Senators sent right-winger Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for defenceman Nick Holden and a third-round pick in the 2022 entry draft.
Dadonov, 32, had 20 points for Ottawa last season, including 13 goals, while the 34-year-old Holden spent much of the campaign on Vegas' taxi squad, registering just two assists in 17 regular season appearances.
In other trade action, the Edmonton Oilers dealt defenceman Ethan Bear to the Carolina Hurricanes for left-winger Warren Foegele.
The 24-year-old Bear struggled with a concussion last season, tallying eight points (two goals, six assists) in 43 regular-season contests.
Foegele, 25, had 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) for the 'Canes in the regular season and added another goal and an assist in 10 playoff appearances.
The Flames also made a deal, picking up defenceman Nikita Zadorov from the Chicago Blackhawks for a third-round pick in the 2022 entry draft.
The six-foot-six, 235-pound Russian blue liner had one goal and seven assists in 55 games for the Blackhawks last season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired the rights to defenceman Brennan Mennell from the Minnesota Wild for a conditional seventh-round pick.
Minnesota with get the selection if Mennell, who spent last year in the KHL, plays 30 games for the Leafs next season.
OWNER APPOLOGIZES
In the ongoing saga involving no. 31 draft pick Logan Mailloux, Canadiens owner Geoff Molson issued a statement offering an apology and action plan following the backlash after the draft.
Mailloux, 18, was charged and fined in Sweden for sharing explicit sexual photos without the consent of the woman in the pictures.
From Belle River, Ont., Mailloux was playing in Sweden on loan from Ontario Hockey League's London Knights when the incident occurred late last year.
Multiple sponsors including La Cage, Saint-Hubert, Desjardins and Jean Coutu have already said they will be reviewing their relationship with the team.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau added his voice to those upset at the pick, with the "life-long Habs fan" saying he was "deeply disappointed with their decision" and that the team "has a lot of explaining to do."
-- with files from CTV News Montreal.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Some customers steaming after McDonald's ends free hot drink sticker program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
U.S. President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
When new leaders took over in ancient Maya, they didn't just bury the former royals. They burned their bodies in public
New archeological investigations in Guatemala reveal that the ancient Maya people had a ritual of burning royal human remains as a public display of political regime change.
Prince William returns to public duties after wife Kate's cancer revelation
Prince William will return to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.