Quoting: JaredOfLondon
except that blocked shots and +/- are absolutly meaningless stats, they dont measure hockey ability at all and minutes played is just minutes played. Playing a lot when you are bad is not a good thing, he would be awful next to rielly and most certainly would not work better than Brodie, then throw in the fact that he has an extra year of term and he's just a really really bad investment for any team, let alone a cap team trying to contend.
Fact is Brodie right now has been looking closer to a 5/6 defenseman right now. He is being paid 5 million. Even if Savard is not good beside Rielly. He is cheaper than 5 million and will solidify the 4 to 6 range for our defense. You mention blocked shots and plus/minus as meaningless yet tanevs greatest strengths on why he is apparently so good is hits, blocked shots and plus/minus. Tanev is useless.on offense, his greatest strengths are picking spots, hits, blocked shots and getting the puck out of zone regardless of who it reaches.
Next year at 3.5 million may not be a bad investment as we will be tight as need defenseman making smaller cap hits capable to playing around the lineup.
That being said, any deal is a risk and I do admit that while Savard has some areas where he can help, he has shown in the past to play like Brodie has this year for periods of time. Will Savard with an year be completely useless next year, possible.