Serge Savard

The Senator won seven Stanley Cups as a player and two as general manager.

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Serge Aubrey Savard (born January 22, 1946) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman, most famously associated with the Montreal Canadiens. Nicknamed "The Senator," he played on seven Stanley Cup championship teams between 1967-68 and 1978-79. In his second full NHL season (1968–69), he became the first defenceman to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player. His career included two broken legs in 1970 and 1971, yet he returned to play for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, appearing in all four wins and one tie without playing in a loss.

Known for the "Savardian Spin-o-rama," a move inspired by Doug Harvey, Savard played his final two seasons with the Winnipeg Jets before retiring in 1983 as the second-last active player of the Original Six era. After retiring, he served as general manager of the Canadiens, winning Stanley Cups in 1985-86 and 1992-93.

Quick Facts

Born: 22 January 1946
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Position: Defence
Shoots: Left
Played for: Montreal Canadiens; Winnipeg Jets
Hall of Fame: 1986

Lore & Background

Savard's playing career was defined by resilience and a unique style. His early years were marred by two broken legs, in 1970 and 1971, the latter preventing him from playing in the 1970-71 playoffs despite the Canadiens winning the Cup that year. However, he returned to form for the historic 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union. He started games 2 and 3, suffered a hairline fracture forcing him out of games 4 and 5, but returned for the final three games.

Remarkably, he was the only Canadian player to play in all four wins and one tie without appearing in a loss. On the ice, he popularized the "Savardian Spin-o-rama," a quick pivoting turn with the puck to evade opponents. While Savard credited Doug Harvey with creating the move that inspired him, the term was coined by sportscaster Danny Gallivan. This agility helped him secure seven Stanley Cups as a player (1967-68, 1968-69, 1972-73, 1975-76, 1976-77, 1977-78, and 1978-79), the most by any defenceman. In 1978–79, his perseverance was recognized with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

Reader's Guide

Savard transitioned seamlessly from star player to executive leadership. After retiring as a player in 1983, he was named general manager of the Canadiens and also managed the Sherbrooke Canadiens of the American Hockey League, winning the Calder Cup with them in 1985. His tenure as GM saw Montreal capture two more Stanley Cups (1986, 1993). Off the ice, Savard built a diverse portfolio; he has been a partner in Thibault, Messier, Savard & Associates, a real-estate development firm based in Montreal, since 1993.

He was also part-owner of El Senador, a resort in Cayo Coco, Cuba (named after his nickname), until it was sold in 2005. A lifelong fan of harness racing, he co-owned successful horses like Shadow Play and Lawless Shadow. Recognized nationally, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1994 and a Knight of the National Order of Quebec in 2004. In 2017, his standing in the sport was reaffirmed when he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players.

Did You Know?

He is the second-last active player of the Original Six era, surpassed only by Wayne Cashman.
His son Marc ran unsuccessfully in the 2004 Canadian federal election for the Liberal Party.