DAVID SAVARD ASSIGNED TO FALCONS

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned defenseman David Savard to the Springfield Falcons, Columbus’ American Hockey League affiliate, Blue Jackets Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Scott Howson announced today.

Savard, 21, has recorded two assists and six penalty minutes in seven games with the Blue Jackets this season. He made his NHL debut against Nashville on October 7 and recorded his first NHL point at Dallas on October 15. In 2010-11, he played his first professional season with Springfield and collected 11-32-43 and 18 penalty minutes in 72 games. He led club defensemen in goals, assists and points and ranked eighth (tied) among AHL defensemen in goals and 14th (tied) in points.

A native of St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Savard was the Blue Jackets’ third pick, 94th overall, in the 2009 Entry Draft. He spent the 2009-10 season with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Moncton Wildcats, where he notched 13-64-77 in 64 games to become the first defensemen to lead the league in assists. He helped Moncton win the QMJHL championship and was named CHL Defenseman of the Year, QMJHL First All-Star Team, won the QMJHL’s Emile-Bouchard Trophy for best defenseman and the Kevin Lowe Trophy for best defensive defenseman. In 199 career QMJHL games, he registered 23-110-133, 109 penalty minutes and had a cumulative plus/minus rating of +40.