Denis Savard

Lore & Background

Denis Savard arrived in Winnipeg as a proven, championship-calibre winger, traded from the Chicago Blackhawks during a period when the Jets were still finding their footing in the post-expansion landscape. For fans at the MTS Centre, seeing Savard skate was an event in itself—his low, powerful strides and the way he could change direction at full speed without losing momentum made every possession he touched feel like a small spectacle. Even in a one-season stint, his presence elevated the energy of the room and gave Jets fans a taste of genuine superstar hockey. His broader career, however, tells the story of a player who was never quite settled. In Chicago, he became a fan favourite and a cornerstone of the Blackhawks' offence. And in New Jersey, he added two more Cups to his résumé, proving his game still had teeth in the early 1990s. The Winnipeg chapter, while short, sits in the middle of that journey—a brief interlude where a player at the peak of his physical prime skated for a city that would remember him fondly. Savard's legacy in Jets lore is that of a what-if. Fans often recall his speed, his confidence, and the way he made the game look effortless, and they wonder what a longer run might have looked like.

In Their Own Story

The MTS Centre hummed with a low, electric buzz on a February night in '92. The ice was fresh, the boards still gleaming, and the crowd had been talking about one name all week. When the puck dropped, Savard was already moving—low centre of gravity, stick tight to the ice, skating like the boards were a runway. He collected the puck at the blue line, didn't even look up, and was gone before the defenceman's stick could find him. Two dekes, a sharp crossover, and he was in the slot, wrist-shot low and hard, the puck kissing the ice and slipping past the goalie's pad. The arena roared. For thirty seconds, Winnipeg wasn't just a stop on the schedule. It was home to the fastest man on the ice, and everyone in the building knew it.

Reader's Guide

He arrived from Chicago as a proven, championship-winning winger and departed for New Jersey before the following season. Playing Style: Savard was a left winger built around elite skating. His top-end speed was among the best in the league, and he paired it with a deke-heavy, creative game that made him nearly impossible to pin down. He was a two-way player who could drive the net, create for teammates, and transition at a pace that left defenders scrambling. His confidence was as much a weapon as his stick skills. Legacy: In Winnipeg, Savard is remembered as a flash of superstar talent in a transitional era. Jets fans who saw him play speak of his speed and flair with a fondness that outlasts the brevity of his stay. He remains a touchstone for what the franchise could attract and a reminder that even one season with a Hall of Famer can become part of a team's folklore.

Did You Know?

• Savard's time with the Jets lasted only a single season, yet his speed and playmaking made him one of the most talked-about players in the building that year.
• His skating style—low, powerful strides combined with rapid direction changes—became a reference point for a generation of young wingers trying to learn how to move the puck at speed.