One of the two of his biggest problems can develop in the AHL. His constant butt-on-ice visits. He needs to develop his balance because he loses a lot of the one-on-one.
His defensive decision making and positioning would be far better off with a vet defensive partner. We have none to give him in the AHL or the NHL
As for trading Savard. If you asked me in August, I was thrilled, ask me now and I'm not trading him for anything. We are woefully on quality defensive play and we would be worse off without Savard.
Maybe everything changes IF...IF we get a top notch defensive coach teaching the young ones the finer points of defensive play.
Learning defence in the AHL will close the current gap a bit so he can learn better at the NHL level.