Obviously, you always give up some defense when you become a top offensive threat--always, even if you're Bobby Orr. Savard's skating ability and intelligence, however, would have minimized the loss.
I saw Serge Savard's entire career, and Canadiens1958 has him pegged right. At the beginning, I thought he was destined to become one of the top five defensemen ever. He appeared to have everything, including that then rather elusive combination in a defenseman, size and speed, and, as a Canadiens fan, I was thrilled. That Conn Smythe award at the end of his second season seemed to confirm that the sky was the limit. Regrettably, the one thing he did not have was a pass on injuries.
I was pretty happy with that Canadiens defensive corps, Savard and Carol Vadnais joining an exceptional foursome in J.C. Tremblay, Jacques Laperriere, Ted Harris and Terry Harper. A few years later, of course, it would be even better. Those great Montreal teams of the 1950s through the 1970s always had great defensemen as well as great goaltenders and great forwards.
