Canadiens ink Savard to 4-year deal

The Montreal Canadiens signed defenseman David Savard to a four-year contract, the team announced.

The deal has an average annual value of $3.5 million, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The Quebec native recently helped the Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Final. Tampa Bay acquired him at the trade deadline last season.

Savard previously played for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He's appeared in 611 games, scoring 41 goals and adding 125 assists.

The 31-year-old brings a solid defensive game to the Canadiens, who are reportedly going to be without captain Shea Weber next season, and perhaps beyond.