Marc Savard Officially Announces Retirement From NHL
Former Boston Bruins center Marc Savard officially announced his retirement from the National Hockey League on Monday. He finishes his career with 706 points in 807 career games with the Bruins, Atlanta Thrashers, New York Rangers, and Calgary Flames.
Savard, 40, last played in an NHL game in 2011. He signed a seven-year contract with the Bruins in 2009 that expired after the end of the 2016-17 season. He played 25 games during 2010-11, earning his name on the Stanley Cup after the Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks.
The former Bruin announced his retirement via Twitter on Monday, as well as in a story on the NHLPA website. He acknowledged on Twitter that his health is “the best it’s been in a very long time.”
— Marc Savard (@MSavvy91) January 22, 2018
— Marc Savard (@MSavvy91) January 22, 2018
Savard’s career unfortunately got cut short after suffering a severe concussion against the Penguins on March 7, 2010. After a now-infamous hit by Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke, Savard needed to be stretchered off the ice. Incredibly, though, he returned in the 2010 playoffs after missing 41 games that season. He topped off his return with the winning goal in Game 1 of the Bruins’ playoff series loss to the Flyers.
But after a brief return to the ice in the 2010-11 season, Savard suffered another concussion and wouldn’t make it back on the ice for the rest of his career.
Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins is taken off the ice by medical staff after being injured in the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Mellon Arena on March 7, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Despite the heartbreaking way his career ended, Savard played like an elite offensive centerman when he was on the ice for the Bruins. Though he first showed his high-end playmaking talent in his final season with the Thrashers, he proved to be no fluke with the B’s. In his prime years with the Bruins (2006-09), Savard scored 262 points in 238 games.
Marc Savard: Offensive Savant
Of course, those 262 points includes 200 assists. Anyone who watched Savard knew he was a playmaking wizard. He’d come up with ridiculously creative passes out of nowhere routinely. As a set-up man, Savard saw the ice as well as any player of his time when he had the puck on his stick. And he’d usually chip in around 20 goals as well.
His aggressive nature as a playmaker may have also led to turnovers at times. But for a few years, Savard easily presented the Bruins’ biggest scoring threat.
It really is a shame that he couldn’t make a comeback after his concussion problems in 2010-11. Without question he would’ve blown by 1,000 career points if he got to play a full career. But as part of his announcement, he also revealed that he intends to reenter the NHL in a coaching capacity.
There’s a chance Savard makes a good coach at the pro level. He had a high hockey IQ as a player, certainly on offense, and that could translate well behind the bench. But it’s good just to know that he’s feeling healthier now than in the recent past. That’s the most important part.
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
