Could Marc Savard be on the move?

BY WEB STAFF
sportsnet.ca

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins are expected to hold negotiations next week, sources tell Sportsnet, as speculation continues to build surrounding a potential trade involving Marc Savard.

There have been some rumblings that the Bruins may be willing to make a soft deal to unload the veteran centre and his long-term contract. Savard has seven years remaining on his deal at a cap hit of just over $4 million a season. However, it's believed Savard has the option of retiring after the first four years of his extension, thus wiping out the three remaining years of the deal.

Sources told Sportsnet Saturday that Savard waived his no-movement clause and gave the Bruins permission to trade him to two teams, the Leafs or Ottawa Senators. After July 1, the clause in Savard's contract increases to five teams.

Early rumours suggested that Leafs defenceman Tomas Kaberle, a long-time target of Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli, could be part of a deal to land Savard but that no longer appears to be the case.

A Toronto-Boston trade involving Savard would reunite the centre with former Bruins teammate Phil Kessel. Boston dealt the young winger to Toronto last fall for two first-round picks (2010 and 2011) and a second-round pick (2010). The Bruins used the first two of those picks to select top prospect Tyler Seguin (No. 2 overall) and Jared Knight (No. 32) at this weekend's NHL Entry Draft.

Savard, whose season was cut short due to concussion problems, had 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) in 41 games last year.