Early years Born in
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Savard played in the 2003
Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a
minor ice hockey team from
Collège Antoine-Girouard as well as the Richelieu Éclaireurs in 2004. He, along with the Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François of the
Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QMAAA), finished third overall at the
2007 Telus Cup.
Junior Savard was drafted by the
Columbus Blue Jackets in the fourth round of the
2009 NHL entry draft after his second season in the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) where he was known as a reliable defenceman with strong defensive skills. The
following QMJHL season, Savard began to support more in an offensive aspect, aiming to become a more complete player. Consequently, he was awarded many league trophies at year's end, including the
Émile Bouchard Trophy as the best defensive defenceman, and the
Kevin Lowe Trophy awarded to the best overall QMJHL defenceman, while finishing first in league scoring among defencemen and establishing a QMJHL record for assists at his position. In the same year, Savard was selected to participate in the
Subway Super Series, wearing a Quebec jersey in the tournament. He was also named the
Canadian Hockey League (CHL)
Defenceman of the Year, recognizing his remarkable QMJHL season with the
Moncton Wildcats in which they captured the
President's Cup championship en route to a berth in the
2010 Memorial Cup.
Professional Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013 In October 2010, while still eligible for
major junior hockey, the Blue Jackets assigned Savard to play with the team's
American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the
Springfield Falcons, where he finished as the team's top-scoring defenceman and second among all rookie blueliners leaguewide. He again joined the AHL ranks to begin the
2011–12 season. On February 7, 2012, Savard scored his first career NHL goal against
Minnesota Wild goalie
Niklas Bäckström. After playing 31 games during the
2011–12 NHL season at the age of 21, he was slowed by an injury suffered in December 2012, shortly before the
league lockout resolution. Thereafter, Savard spent the majority of the
2012–13 season with Springfield. In July 2013, as a
restricted free agent, Savard was re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Blue Jackets organization. Savard played his first full NHL season with the Blue Jackets for the
2013–14 campaign, registering 15 points in 70 games. On July 5, 2014, he signed a two-year contract extension with the team. On September 15, 2015, Savard inked a five-year, $21.25 million contract extension with the Blue Jackets. During the
2016–17 season, he would effectively set a franchise record in
plus–minus at +33.
Tampa Bay Lightning Entering the final year of his contract in the pandemic delayed
2020–21 season, Savard collected one goal and six points through 40 regular-season games played. Approaching the annual
NHL trade deadline, Savard was involved in a three-way trade involving Columbus, the
Detroit Red Wings, and eventual destination
Tampa Bay Lightning. He and the Lightning would then go on to win the
Stanley Cup, with Savard contributing five points in 20 playoff games, including an assist on
Ross Colton's series-clinching goal in Game 5 of that year's
Stanley Cup Finals.
Montreal Canadiens and retirement Following his Stanley Cup run with the Lightning, Savard opted to test free agency, securing a four-year, $14 million deal with the
Montreal Canadiens on July 28, 2021. Drawing into the Canadiens' lineup amidst team captain and fellow bluneliner
Shea Weber being placed on
long-term injured reserve, Savard was regarded as part of the attempt to compensate for the foregoing's loss. Despite this, he antithetically became a focus of criticism from fans after what was an historically poor season for the team overall. On January 29, 2022, it was announced that Savard would miss eight weeks of the
2021–22 season due to an ankle injury. While injury likewise plagued his
2022–23 production, Savard received recognition as the team's annual recipient of the
Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy, awarded to the player deemed to have had a dominant role during the course of the regular season. At the conclusion of the
2023–24 season, Savard was again named recipient of the Jacques Beauchamp-Molson Trophy, becoming just the fourth player in franchise history to accomplish this feat in consecutive years. During the
2024–25 season, he skated in his 800th career NHL game, joining a select few from his respective draft class to reach this milestone. Shortly after the Canadiens secured their berth in the
2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, Savard announced that he would retire at the end of his team's respective postseason run, which culminated following their first-round series defeat by the
Washington Capitals on April 30, 2025. ==International play==