The 30-year-old defenseman scored six points (one goal, five assists) in 54 regular-season games with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning last season. He did not score a point in 14 games after he was acquired by Tampa Bay on April 10 as part of a three-team trade that included the Detroit Red Wings.
He had five assists in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help the Lightning win the Stanley Cup.
"I was definitely trying to find the best fit, a team that wanted to have me, and I think Montreal showed a lot of interest right away," Savard said Wednesday. "And for me it was easy, the way they spoke to us and the way they wanted us to be there and to be a big part of their team moving forward."
Savard will go from the Cup champions to the team they defeated in the Final.
"I mean, it's definitely going to be a little weird to walk in the dressing room the first time, but I think it's part of the job," he said. "It's kind of the same thing when I walked in Tampa, you know, we played them twice in the playoffs the two years before (with the Blue Jackets) so I think it's just part of it, there's not much you can do. It's a big business and I'm happy to be in Montreal now.
"Obviously, a month ago it was completely different when we were playing them, but now I'm really happy to be on their side now. They have a young team that showed a lot of good things and I was pretty impressed in the Final, how they handled themselves and how they played and how hard they played. So I'm excited to join the group and help them win and get to the Stanley Cup Final again."
Selected by Columbus in the fourth round (No. 94) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Savard has scored 166 points (41 goals, 125 assists) in 611 regular-season games with the Blue Jackets and Lightning, and 16 points (one goal, 15 assists) in 57 playoff games.
NHL.com independent correspondent Sean Farrell contributed to this report
