Newly signed David Savard issues a gutsy goal for the Montreal Canadiens

Defenseman David Savard achieved the top of the mountain earlier this year, winning his first career Stanley Cup as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He even assisted on the game-winning goal in Game 5 at Amalie Arena for good measure.

Now, he's donning the colors of the squad that his Lightning bested in the Finals, the Montreal Canadiens. He agreed to a four-year, $14 million contract (average annual value $3.5 million) after posting five assists in the 20 games he played during the playoffs. 

And he's got no plans to let the Stanley Cup get too far away from him. 

"We're going to try to bring it back (to Montreal), that's the plan for next year," Savard said. "What I'd like is to be back in Lac-Beauport with the Cup next year."

"It's a different team, but not by much," Savard said. "I liked the way the Canadiens played against us in the Final. They have several veterans who've already won the Cup (Paquette with the Lightning and defenseman Joel Edmundson and goalie Jake Allen with the St. Louis Blues). I'm going to try to bring my own baggage and make it an even better team. We're all planning to return to the Final and to win it."

The Habs will be hoping for a repeat performance of their Cinderella-style run last season, as they overcame a 3-1 series deficit against the Toronto Maple Leafs, swept the Winnipeg Jets, and outlasted the favored Vegas Golden Knights en route to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1993. 

"I know what I have to do," Savard said. "I've been doing it for several years now and I'm not going to change. The team also knows what I can bring them. I'm keeping the same formula."

And now, the native of St-Hyacinthe, Quebec will be playing in front of his hometown fans. 

"I'm looking forward to putting on the skates and playing a first game at Bell Centre," he said. "It will be nice to be closer to my family and my friends."

He has scored 166 points (41 goals, 125 assists) in 611 regular-season games with Columbus and Tampa Bay, and 16 points (one goal, 15 assists) in 57 playoff games.