Boston Sports Then and Now

Savard may not be so excited to play for the Bruins this season.

The 2009-2010 season was perhaps the worst of Marc Savard’s career.

After leading the Bruins in points for three consecutive seasons, Boston’s most dynamic offensive force suited up for just 41 games in an injury riddled season. During training camp prior to the season Savard took a shot to his foot, but decided to play through the pain.

Just seven games into the regular season Savard was struck in the same foot, an injury later revealed to be a broken foot. Savard was put on the injured reserve list as he watched his team a struggle. Savard returned to the Boston line-up in November scoring seven points in his first seven games back, including a hat trick in old pal Phil Kessel’s return to the TD Garden.

Savard’s bad luck struck again in January when the Bruins vicious injury bug hit him less than a minute into a game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Savard collided with Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews and Savard went down clutching his leg. He was later diagnosed with a slight MCL tear, an injury that did not require surgery but put Savard on the shelf once again.

He returned to the ice just 22 days later but exactly two months after going down with that knee injury Savard was lost for the remainder of the regular season when the Penguins’ Matt Cooke struck Savard in the head with an elbow. Savard was diagnosed with a Grade 2 concussion as many wondered if his career might be at stake. A horrible season for Savard became that much worse.

Savard made a dramatic return in Game 1 of the second round series against the Flyers, scoring the game winning goal in overtime as the Boston crowd worked into a frenzy. He virtually disappeared the rest of the series, culminating in Savard’s key role in a too many men on the ice penalty in Game 7 that ultimately cost the Bruins the series.

Even though the season was over, Savard’s year continued to get worse. What has perhaps hurt Savard most of all, more than an injury riddled season, are the constantly swirling trade rumors he has had to deal with since the conclusion of Game 7.

Savard's injury plagued season gave way to a rocky off-season.

In December Savard signed a 7-year extension with the Bruins, a deal he had hoped would leave him in Boston for the rest of his career. Both Savard and team management talked about their desire to continue their partnership and bring the Bruins further success. But when Savard seemed reluctant to accept any responsibility for that infamous penalty the trade rumors began, growing ever louder as the summer progressed.

Savard’s mental state, not his physical state, could be a big problem for the Bruins when the season begins. Savard was understandably less than pleased with all the trade rumors and reports that the Bruins were actively shopping him.

“I was really focused on staying there for the rest of my career. To hear all this stuff this summer bothered me inside more than anything else,” Savard said over the summer.

The key question for the Bruins is whether or not the relationship can be repaired enough to make Savard a productive member of a team that has Stanley Cup aspirations.

If the rumors are to be believed the Bruins have actively shopped Savard over the summer without finding any takers, and Savard has taken this as a sign of disloyalty. The NHL’s pending investigation in Savard’s contract makes him a tough sell if the Bruins are trying to move him, but keeping him could be just as big of a problem.

The Bruins have high expectations coming into the 2010-11 season and need every player, first line or fourth, to be on the same page if they hope to compete in an increasingly difficult Eastern Conference. A disgruntled solider has the potential to cause a rift in the lockerroom and perhaps derail a team with such lofty expectations.

Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com has reported that sources indicate the Bruins fully expect to have Savard as their top-line center when training camp begins in mid-September despite a summer of rumors.

But can the Bruins and Savard get past any lingering “hurt feelings” and get Savard to fully commit to winning with the Bruins this season? Players are generally professional in these situations but thinking about how the team signed a 7-year deal with him just a few months ago and now wants him gone, regardless of the reasons,  may make it hard for Savard to concentrate and want to help that team win. Why would Savard actively want to help a team that supposedly does not want him?

With youngster Tyler Seguin coming aboard, developing players like Blake Wheeler looking to improve and newcomers like Nathan Horton looking to make a fresh start the Bruins need Savard to be committed and dedicated to the team. If Savard enters camp mentally unavailable and not committed to team goals, chemistry with his linemates and other teammates may never develop and could stunt team growth and success.

Lucic and Savard have worked well together in the past.

An engaged and committed Savard could help reignite a Bruins offense that was second worst in the league last season. Imagine the havoc a Lucic-Savard-Horton line could potentially cause if Savard continues to work his offensive magic.

On the other side, a Savard that feels betrayed by the Bruins may not be dedicated to helping the Bruins reach new heights and may coast. Feeling unwanted or unneeded can weigh heavily on a player and a disengaged Savard would surely hurt the Bruins and could lead to an ugly divorce or a divided lockerroom, problems a promising team certainly does not need.

No matter who is at fault in the relationship, if anyone, Boston needs to work on repairing Savard’s fragile mental state if they hope to move forward this season.