The legendary Serge Savard is my choice for the number 3 spot on my top-10 list of the Habs’ greatest defensemen of all time. Some of you correctly predicted where I was headed with this list and therefore deserve credit.
A part of the infamous “Big 3…, Serge Savard played a complete game. He excelled in his own zone, easily breaking up plays using his 6’3… and 210 lbs frame and long reach while delivering thunderous body checks that shifted the momentum in favour of his team. He joined the Montreal Canadiens in 1966 and played his second full NHL season in 1968-1969 where he’d help lead the team to their second consecutive Stanley Cup. He’d become the first-ever defenseman to win the Conn Smyth Trophy as playoffs MVP, putting up 10 points in 14 games.
His offensive skills were unmatched at the time- he had the speed and stickhandling ability to take over a game while his superior skating abilities allowed him not only to fly past opponents but also to dodge hits. His revolutionary “Savardian Spin-o-rama… left a lasting mark not only on the Habs’ long and illustrious history but also on the National Hockey League until this very day.
Playing on a team stacked with skillful players, he would help the team win Stanley Cups in 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979. He picked up the Bill Masterton trophy awarded to a player “… who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey…, as per NHL.com. Often, this honour is awarded to an individual who has bounced back from potentially career-threatening injuries or ailments, and in the case of Savard, his two leg fractures in less than a year merited the recognition in 1979.
Although his leg injuries would affect his offensive output after his return at the end of 1972 (the same year he played in the Summit Series), he evolved his playing style in order to perfect stay-at-home defending. He opted to block shots and used his size to get in between opponents and the pucks, and emerged as one of the best blue-liners without necessarily venturing out of his zone thereafter.
In 917 regular-season games, he posted 100 goals and 412 points. In 123 playoff appearances, he’d post 68 points overall. He’d be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986, the same year he helped the Canadiens win a Stanley Cup as general manager. He’d be the last GM in history to repeat this exploit in 1993, and in 2006, the organization honoured him by retiring his #18 jersey.
Lately, Savard continues to make headlines in Montreal as he never shies away from offering his take on what’s going on with the Canadiens. His incredible career entices members of the media and journalists alike to listen attentively when he speaks, especially since the man’s experience is essentially unprecedented in the history of the Bleu Blanc et Rouge.