Denis Savard
Encyclopedia
Denis Joseph Savard is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
player. He played in the National Hockey League
from 1980 to 1997, and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 2000. He has also served as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks
of the NHL, and now serves as an ambassador for the Blackhawks' organization.
by the Chicago Blackhawks
. He was the highest drafted player in Blackhawks' history, until the organization drafted Patrick Kane
with the first overall pick in 2007. He began his career during the 1980–81 NHL season in which he had three assists
in his first game. He then went on to set the Blackhawks' record (since broken) for most points
by a rookie with 75.
He was known for his trademark move, the 'Savardian Spin-o-rama' (a term actually coined by Danny Gallivan
, referencing the move performed by Serge Savard
http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/spot_oneononep198603.htm) , which entailed Savard whirling around with the puck in a full rotation allowing him to defeat defenders and goaltenders alike.
Savard had two separate stints with the Blackhawks. The first was from the 1980–81 season to the 1989–90 season. The second was from 1994–95 to 1996–97. During his absence from Chicago, he played for the Montreal Canadiens
(1990–91 to 1992–93) and the Tampa Bay Lightning
(1993–94 to 1994–95).
On June 29, 1990, Savard was famously traded to the Montreal Canadiens
for defenceman
and future team captain Chris Chelios
and a second-round pick (Mike Pomichter). Savard won the Stanley Cup
with the Canadiens in 1993. He signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning
in the summer of 1993, where he played 1½ seasons. On April 6, 1995 Savard was traded back to Chicago, for a 1996 sixth-round pick (Xavier Delisle
). Savard's NHL career would end where it had started, with the Blackhawks.
In 1,196 NHL
games, Savard scored 473 goals and 865 assists
, totalling 1338 points
. He trails only Bobby Hull
and Stan Mikita
for total points in Chicago Blackhawks history. Five times during his career he scored at least 100 points and for seven straight years he had at least 30 goals. His highest point total of 131 came in 1987–88 and his highest goal total of 47 came in 1985–86. In 169 playoff games, he scored 66 goals and 109 assists for a total of 175 points.
Savard officially retired from professional hockey on June 26, 1997. On March 19, 1998, the Blackhawks retired his jersey number #18. Savard was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
on November 13, 2000.
was fired mid-season. He was commended for leading a young Blackhawks team to within 3 points of a playoff berth during his second season as coach. The Hawks finished just one victory away from the .500 mark in 2007–2008. The 40 wins in 2007–08 marked the first time the club had reached the 40 win mark in six years.
On October 16, 2008, just four games into the season Savard was fired as coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. He was replaced by Joel Quenneville
, former coach of the Colorado Avalanche
, recently hired as a scout
for the Blackhawks' organization. In 147 games as coach, Savard posted a 65–66–16 record.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. He played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
from 1980 to 1997, and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 2000. He has also served as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
of the NHL, and now serves as an ambassador for the Blackhawks' organization.
NHL playing career
Denis Savard was drafted in the first round, 3rd overall, in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft1980 NHL Entry Draft
The 1980 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum. This was the first time that an NHL arena hosted the draft. The National Hockey League teams selected 210 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1979–80 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the...
by the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
. He was the highest drafted player in Blackhawks' history, until the organization drafted Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane
Patrick Timothy Kane, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . The Blackhawks selected him with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Minor and junior:Kane attended the St...
with the first overall pick in 2007. He began his career during the 1980–81 NHL season in which he had three assists
Assist (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
in his first game. He then went on to set the Blackhawks' record (since broken) for most points
Point (ice hockey)
Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
by a rookie with 75.
He was known for his trademark move, the 'Savardian Spin-o-rama' (a term actually coined by Danny Gallivan
Danny Gallivan
Danny Gallivan was a Canadian radio and television broadcaster and sportscaster.-Early life and career:Born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Gallivan began his broadcast career at a local radio station in Antigonish, Nova Scotia while attending St. Francis Xavier University...
, referencing the move performed by Serge Savard
Serge Savard
Serge Aubrey "The Senator" Savard, OC, CQ is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman, most famously with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He is also a local businessman in Montreal, and is nicknamed the Senator.-Playing career:Savard played minor league hockey with the...
http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/spot_oneononep198603.htm) , which entailed Savard whirling around with the puck in a full rotation allowing him to defeat defenders and goaltenders alike.
Savard had two separate stints with the Blackhawks. The first was from the 1980–81 season to the 1989–90 season. The second was from 1994–95 to 1996–97. During his absence from Chicago, he played for the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
(1990–91 to 1992–93) and the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
(1993–94 to 1994–95).
On June 29, 1990, Savard was famously traded to the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
for defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
and future team captain Chris Chelios
Chris Chelios
Christos Kostas Tselios is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman. He is currently the Executive Advisor to Ken Holland, the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, a role that Steve Yzerman held before leaving to become general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning.Chelios played...
and a second-round pick (Mike Pomichter). Savard won the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
with the Canadiens in 1993. He signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
in the summer of 1993, where he played 1½ seasons. On April 6, 1995 Savard was traded back to Chicago, for a 1996 sixth-round pick (Xavier Delisle
Xavier Delisle
Xavier Delisle is a former professional ice hockey centre. He was drafted in the sixth round, 157th overall, of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning...
). Savard's NHL career would end where it had started, with the Blackhawks.
In 1,196 NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
games, Savard scored 473 goals and 865 assists
Assist (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
, totalling 1338 points
Point (ice hockey)
Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
. He trails only Bobby Hull
Bobby Hull
Robert Marvin "Bobby" Hull, OC is a former Canadian ice hockey player. He is regarded as one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time and perhaps the greatest left winger to ever play the game. Hull was famous for his blonde hair, blinding skating speed, and having the hardest shot, earning...
and Stan Mikita
Stan Mikita
Stanislav "Stan" Mikita , is a Slovak-born Canadian retired professional ice hockey player, generally regarded as the best centre of the 1960s. In 1961, he won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he played his entire career.-Early life:Mikita was born in Sokolče, Slovak Republic...
for total points in Chicago Blackhawks history. Five times during his career he scored at least 100 points and for seven straight years he had at least 30 goals. His highest point total of 131 came in 1987–88 and his highest goal total of 47 came in 1985–86. In 169 playoff games, he scored 66 goals and 109 assists for a total of 175 points.
Savard officially retired from professional hockey on June 26, 1997. On March 19, 1998, the Blackhawks retired his jersey number #18. Savard was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
on November 13, 2000.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1977–78 1977–78 QMJHL season The 1977–78 QMJHL season was the ninth season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates two awards, the Robert Lebel Trophy for the team with best goals against average, and the Guy Lafleur Trophy for the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. Ten teams played... |
Montreal Juniors Montreal Juniors The Montreal Juniors were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1975 to 1982. They played at the Montreal Forum.-History:... |
QMJHL Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League... |
72 | 37 | 79 | 116 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 1978–79 QMJHL season The 1978–79 QMJHL season was the tenth season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The QMJHL unveils a new logo for its tenth anniversary, using the letters of league's french acronym shaped as an ice skate. Ten teams played 72 games each in the schedule... |
Montreal Juniors | QMJHL | 70 | 46 | 112 | 158 | 88 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 46 | ||
| 1979–80 1979–80 QMJHL season The 1979–80 QMJHL season was the 11th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Ten teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Sherbrooke Castors finished first overall in the regular season, winning the Jean Rougeau Trophy. The Cornwall Royals, led by rookie Dale... |
Montreal Juniors | QMJHL | 72 | 63 | 118 | 181 | 93 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 8 | ||
| 1980–81 | Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
76 | 28 | 47 | 75 | 47 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1981–82 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 80 | 32 | 87 | 119 | 82 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 52 | ||
| 1982–83 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 78 | 35 | 86 | 121 | 99 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 22 | ||
| 1983–84 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 75 | 37 | 57 | 94 | 71 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | ||
| 1984–85 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 79 | 38 | 67 | 105 | 56 | 15 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 20 | ||
| 1985–86 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 80 | 47 | 69 | 116 | 111 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 1986–87 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 70 | 40 | 50 | 90 | 108 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | ||
| 1987–88 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 80 | 44 | 87 | 131 | 95 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 17 | ||
| 1988–89 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 58 | 23 | 59 | 82 | 110 | 16 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 10 | ||
| 1989–90 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 60 | 23 | 57 | 80 | 56 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 41 | ||
| 1990–91 | Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHL | 70 | 28 | 31 | 59 | 52 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 35 | ||
| 1991–92 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 77 | 28 | 42 | 70 | 73 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 8 | ||
| 1992–93 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 63 | 16 | 34 | 50 | 90 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 1993–94 | Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
NHL | 74 | 18 | 28 | 46 | 106 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 31 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 12 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 10 | ||
| 1995–96 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 69 | 13 | 35 | 48 | 102 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 1996–97 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 64 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 60 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| QMJHL totals | 214 | 146 | 309 | 455 | 203 | 21 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 54 | ||||
| NHL totals | 1196 | 473 | 865 | 1338 | 1336 | 169 | 66 | 109 | 175 | 256 | ||||
Coaching career
Shortly after his retirement as a player, Savard began a coaching career with the Blackhawks in December 1997. On November 27, 2006, Savard was named interim head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks after Trent YawneyTrent Yawney
Trent G. Yawney is a retired hockey defenceman, a former head coach of the NHL Chicago Blackhawks, a former professional scout for the Anaheim Ducks, and a former assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks of the NHL.Yawney was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Third...
was fired mid-season. He was commended for leading a young Blackhawks team to within 3 points of a playoff berth during his second season as coach. The Hawks finished just one victory away from the .500 mark in 2007–2008. The 40 wins in 2007–08 marked the first time the club had reached the 40 win mark in six years.
On October 16, 2008, just four games into the season Savard was fired as coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. He was replaced by Joel Quenneville
Joel Quenneville
Joel Norman Quenneville is the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks professional ice hockey team. He is a former ice hockey defenseman and former head coach of the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues...
, former coach of the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
, recently hired as a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for the Blackhawks' organization. In 147 games as coach, Savard posted a 65–66–16 record.
Coaching record
| Team | |Regular season | CHI Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... |
2006–07 | 61 | 24 | 30 | 7 | (71) | 5th in Central Central Division (NHL) The NHL's Central Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Norris Division.The Central Division consists of the Western Conference's easternmost teams.-Current lineup:... |
Missed playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHI | 2007–08 | 82 | 40 | 34 | 8 | 88 | 3rd in Central | Missed playoffs | ||
| CHI | 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | (104) | 2nd in Central | (fired) | ||
| Total | 147 | 65 | 66 | 16 | .496 | |||||
Other
- Denis Savard has a cousin named Jean SavardJean SavardJean Savard is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.- Career statistics :-External links:...
who coincidentally also played for the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1970s. - Despite having the same number (#18) and last name as Montreal Canadiens' legend Serge SavardSerge SavardSerge Aubrey "The Senator" Savard, OC, CQ is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman, most famously with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He is also a local businessman in Montreal, and is nicknamed the Senator.-Playing career:Savard played minor league hockey with the...
, the two are only distantly related. - He is sometimes called "Savoir-Faire" referring to a fictional French CanadianFrench CanadianFrench Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
mouse that was the archnemesis of the cartoon character Klondike KatKlondike KatKlondike Kat was a cartoon produced by Total Television and originally aired as part of The Beagles on CBS-TV, and later found in the U.S. syndicated Underdog and Tennessee Tuxedo cartoon series, in between episodes as an animated short.-Plot:...
.
See also
- List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame
- List of NHL statistical leaders
- List of NHL players with 1000 points