Tampa Bay Lightning acquire David Savard in three-team blockbuster trade

The Tampa Bay Lightning have made a big splash in the trade market acquiring defenceman David Savard from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a three-team trade.

The third team, the Detroit Red Wings, were involved to eat 25 percent of Savard’s salary after the Blue Jackets ate 50%.

Here’s how the deal breaks down, as explained by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun:

• Trade 1: Columbus trades Savard with 50% salary retained to Detroit for David Lashoff.
• Trade 2: Detroit trades Savard with 50% salary retained to Tampa Bay for their 4th round pick in 2021.
• Trade 3: Columbus trades Brian Lashoff to Tampa Bay for their 2021 1st round pick and their 3rd round pick in 2022.

So, in turn, here’s how the full trade breaks down:

• Columbus acquires Tampa’s 2021 first in 2021 and 3rd in 2022 while trading Savard and retaining 50% of his salary.
• Detroit acquires Tampa’s 2021 4th, and trades Lashoff.
• Tampa acquires Savard and Lashoff, trading their 2021 1st round pick in 2021, fourth round pick in 2021 and 3rd round pick in 2022.

Lashoff, 30, will remain with the AHL’s Grand Rapid Griffins on loan from the Lightning.

In Savard, meanwhile, the Lightning acquire an elite shutdown-defenceman to help boslter their defensive corps ahead of what will surely be another run at the cup. Savard is a UFA at the end of the season.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.