Savard has a deep history with the Blue Jackets. He ranks fourth all-time on Columbus for games played (597). No defenseman has skated more games with the Blue Jackets than Savard. He's the fourth-highest scorer all-time among Blue Jackets defensemen. And he played a critical role in Columbus' stunning four-game sweep of the Lightning in the First Round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Savard's third period goal helping ignite the Jackets rally in Game 1 and send them to the first playoff series victory in franchise history.
"It's definitely going to be weird," Savard said. "I'm kind of excited at the same time to see them on the ice. I spent quite a bit of time there. It should be fun. Hopefully we get a big win on our side tonight. We're still in a battle for us, so it's an important game. That makes it a little special to play the Jackets tonight."
In a normal season, Savard would probably have dinner with his former teammates the day before the game. Columbus got into town Wednesday after finishing a two-game set in Sunrise against the Florida Panthers.
Because of COVID-19 protocols, however, visiting players aren't allowed to leave their hotel, so Savard had to settle for texting them.
"It would be nice to have dinner with those guys," Savard said. "You spend so many years with them. We've been texting even since I got traded. You care about those guys still, and we have conversations here and there, maybe not as much as when we're on the same team. But we stay in contact and we talked to each other yesterday. I just said how weird it's going to be tonight. It is what it is. It's part of the business. It's the part that is not fun about the business, moving and stuff like this. But really excited to be here and have a chance to win the Stanley Cup. I think they're excited for me to be here. They know how good (the Lightning are), and they wished me nothing but the best."
Savard will play his sixth game with the Lightning when they open the two-game series tonight against Columbus. He paired with Victor Hedman in his Tampa Bay debut April 13 at Nashville but has partnered with Ryan McDonagh since, those two seemingly developing good chemistry and emerging as a reliable duo for the Bolts.
Savard has seen his comfort level in the offensive zone increase as well the last couple games. He took three shots on Monday in a win over Carolina and had a great deal of success firing pucks on net from the right point and creating scramble plays in front that the Lightning were close to cashing in on.
Savard is still searching for his first point with the Lightning, although his offensive game isn't why the Lightning were so determined to add him at the trade deadline. He's a defender first, and a gritty one at that who adds toughness to the Lightning lineup. Savard also eats pucks - he ranks fifth in the NHL with 95 blocked shots - and hits opponents with authority.
Savard said his transition to a new team has been an easy one.
"I think all the guys made me feel very welcome," he said. "I was the only new guy coming in, so the team was running well already. I'm just trying to add my thing in there and play well. Playing a lot with Mac has been going really easy. He's such a good player, and he talks a lot on the ice. Every time I would have a question, he would get the answer. It's been pretty easy for me. I'm just trying to get better every game and make sure I know everything and I'm ready for the playoffs."
Savard said it'll be hard to put into words his feelings playing on the opposite side of the Blue Jackets these next two games.
"I'm just going to try to play intense," he said. "You can't play like it's a practice because you played for a long time with them. I'm just going to play like it's a normal game, but obviously the emotions are going to be pretty high playing against your old teammates. I'm excited for it. I knew it was coming at some point. Sometimes, I don't know if it's better to push it back or to do it right away. It's going to be done after and just business as usual after."
RUTTA UPDATE: Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta has missed the last 11 games with a lower-body injury he suffered March 30 but has made progress in his rehab of late as he starts to skate again, like he did with the rest of the scratches before Thursday's morning skate.
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper remains confident Rutta will return to the lineup before the end of the regular season but didn't know when he'd be ready to play again.
"I wouldn't say he's close to a return. I would say he's making progress," Cooper said. "At least he's on the ice now, so that's a good sign. But I don't have a timetable for when he's coming back."
