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Denis Savard

NHL, the National Hockey League is a premier professional North American Sports League played in indoor stadiums. It is divided into two conferences, each comprising of three divisions of ice hockey teams. Denis Savard was born on 4th February 1961, in the Montreal suburb of Pointe Gatineau, Quebec. He had registered 455 points as a sensational junior on the hometown junior Canadiens.

He had gained national attention for his end-to-end rushes and for centering the productive Trois Denis line with Denis Cyr and Denis Tremblay. All three were drafted into the NHL, and, more amazingly, all were born on the exact same day in the same year. In 1980, he scored 181 points and was named to the QMJHL, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League first all-star team. As the 1980 Entry Draft approached, most observers figured and he was claimed by the Montreal Canadiens first overall.

In 1982-83, he formed one of the top lines in the NHL with Secord and rookie Steve Larmer. Between 1982 and 1988, he topped the 100-point mark five times including a personal best 131 points in 1987-88. He was named to the NHL second all-star team in 1983 and helped Chicago reach the semi-finals in 1985, 1989 and 1990. In 1992-93, he scored 50 points and played 14 games as Montreal won the Stanley Cup. Although he was not dressed for the clinching game, the veteran was on hand to hoist the Cup on ice with captain Guy Carbonneau in front of the delirious Forum crowd.

He had joined the second year Tampa Bay Lightning in 1993-94 and contributed 18 goals along with veteran savvy. Late in the 1994-95 schedule he was re-acquired by the Hawks in time to add depth to their post-season roster. The rejuvenated pivot recorded 18 points in 16 games to help Chicago reach the Western Conference final. He recorded 35 assists and was a plus twenty score for Chicago in 1995-96 as the club extended the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche to six games in the second round of the playoffs.

Denis Savard was a talented centre and often stood out on a given night's sports highlights. His lethal blend of speed, improvisational trickery and cockiness helped his linemates and teams soar during the 1980s and 1990s. He was a talented veteran and retired after playing 64 games for the Hawks teams in 1997 and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame three years later.

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