The Montreal Canadiens Just Signed 3 Quebec-Born Players
Welcome to the madhouse, les boys.
The NHL's free-agent frenzy is in full swing right now and the Montreal Canadiens have made some key moves so far, signing three Québécois players on Wednesday.
The Habs added some local flair despite losing local hero Phillip Danault to the Los Angeles Kings: David Savard, Cédric Paquette and Jean-Sebastien Dea.
While Dea will play for both the NHL and AHL, Savard and Paquette will play exclusively for the NHL and are the focus of this article.
Let's meet these two new Canadiens, shall we?
David Savard
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a four-year contract (2021-22 to 2024-25) with defenseman David Savard.\n\n#GoHabsGo— Canadiens Montr\u00e9al (@Canadiens Montr\u00e9al) 1627491652
David Savard hails from Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec and brings heaps of experience to the team.
The 30-year-old defenceman will bring size and smarts to the Canadiens blueline. Having spent the majority of his career with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Savard was most recently a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who, of course, beat the Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Final.
For Savard and his young family coming to Montreal was a no-brainer.
"We always loved being in Quebec," he said at a press conference on Wednesday.
"It was our best option [...] it was easy for us to make the decision."
His entire family still lives here, he mentioned, and he looks forward to being able to play in front of his hometown crowd and sending his kids, aged 6, 5, and 18 months to francophone school.
"I don't think I crave the fact of being recognized everywhere, but I think it'll be a fun experience to live around Montreal," he said.
Savard inked a four-year contract at a $3.5 million annual value.
Cédric Paquette
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with forward C\u00e9dric Paquette.\n\n#GoHabsGo— Canadiens Montr\u00e9al (@Canadiens Montr\u00e9al) 1627495247
Cédric Paquette was born in Gaspé, Quebec and he too will bring some gritty veteran presence to the Habs.
And while it's strange to consider a 27-year-old a "veteran," Paquette has nearly a decade of NHL experience with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Ottawa Senators, and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Paquette signed a one-year contract worth $950,000.