Prospects

Edmonton Oilers prospects roundup: Matthew Savoie making a case for an NHL call up

There is so much to get into this week- let’s dive right in!

Welcome to the TOR Edmonton Oilers prospect update. Each week, we’ll take a dive into how the Oilers’ prospects have done in their respective leagues. We have defined a prospect as a skater who has played fewer than 65 NHL games, and is younger than 25 years of age.

Matthew Savoie truly is All-Star material

This isn’t the first time that we here at the Oil Rig have done a feature on this prospect. For a more detailed breakdown of Matthew Savoie’s play check out our last feature on Savoie.

Savoie’s adjustment to the pro ranks has been relatively smooth. The Alberta product plays that of a playmaker’s game with extremely high pace. His game is defined by high end elite skating, puck skills, and quality senses. He also shows a good compete level, and some developing physicality.

Savoie’s skating took the forefront this past week, at the AHL All-Star Game, where he won the leagues fastest skater in 13.654 seconds. Connor McDavid might have some competition as that time rivals his 2024 NHL All-Star fastest skater time of 13.408.

One of the things that particularly makes his skating stand out is a conbination of good skating form and quality mechanics.

In terms of form, Savoie’s posture is top notch with a good middle hunch, and quality lower body and ankle flection that generate a quick stride recovery. Mechanically, the Bakersfield Condors forward has a very clean stride allows for full extension, good depth, and quality lateral acceleration. There is high end top speed with the 21-year-old prospect.

Even his gliding is faster than a below average skaters top speed.

Notable agility, and edgework as well which allows greater lane creation, route creation and deception in Savoie’s rush play.

Savoie’s skating is also complimented by high end senses (offensive instincts, lane awareness, and hockey IQ). These senses combine with his high pace and scanning frequency to identify play options, space, and chance generation opportunities. All of this translates to quality play anticipation.

He has shown that he is more of a play creator then initially thought at the pro level. Savoie’s puck skills are also top end with quality handling, deception, decision making, and passing diversity. Compete level is also notable in his transition play as he shows quality hustle, play engagement, and motor.

Edmonton Oilers prospect updates

AHL

  • The Condors are 6–2–1–1 in their past ten. They are on a three-game win streak, with two of these wins coming in the past week.
  • Matthew Savoie continues to make a case for a call up with the Oilers as his speed, pace, and puck skills consistently make him an offensive threat. He posted a two-point game against the Henderson Silver Knights on the 29th.
  • Derek Ryan made his first two appearances with the Condors this season, and is currently a point per game.

ECHL

  • Connor Ungar collected one win against the Wheeling Nailers this past week, which brought him to 13 wins on the campaign.

Europe

  • After his stellar season so far, goalie Samuel Jonnsson has earned a call up to the SHL.
  • Tomas Mazura had another stellar weekend with BK Mlada Boleslav, posting four points in three games. He is now on a five-game point streak. Expect his puck skills and shooting to combine for even more points as he gets adjusted to the pro level.

NCAA

  • Players like Paul Fischer, Luca Munzenberger, and NCAA hockey clubs had a break this past week, and resume this upcoming week.
  • Shane Lachance posted three points and a +2 rating in around 18 minutes of TOI this past weekend.

OHL

  • Flint Firebirds netminder, Nathaniel Day had a solid week, posting a combined 0.953 on 64 shots in two starts. The Burlington product collected one win and an OT loss in that span. Day has been a workhorse for Flint this season, appearing in 42 of their 48 games so far.
  • A two assist weekend and a +4 rating in three games for Beau Akey this past weekend. Teammate Dalyn Wakely did not appear in the Colts February 2 game against the Niagara Icedogs.
  • Brady Stonehouse found the back of the net once against the Brampton Steelheads on January 31. He appeared in a total of three games this past week.
  • London Knights teammates Sam O’Reilly and Nicholl only found the scoresheet a combined once (Nicholl) in two games (Erie and Windsor).

Russia

  • Maxim Beryozkin has already found the scoresheet in the second month of 2025 posting an assist against Metallurg Magnitogorsk in his Feburary 2nd game.

Forwards

PlayerPositionGPGAPP/GPPIMTeamLeague
Carl BerglundC/LW3528100.294Bakersfield CondorsAHL
Maxim BeryozkinRW501222340.6816Yaroslavl LokomitivKHL
Connor ClattenburgLW351312250.7186Flint FirebirdsOHL
Matt CopponiC25412160.6410Boston UniversityNCAA
Maxim DenezhkinC4697160.3512Avtomobilist YekaterinburgKHL
Jayden GrubbeC/RW402790.2333Bakersfield CondorsAHL
James HamblinC/LW1969150.7910Bakersfield CondorsAHL
Roby JärventieLW/RW20221.000Bakersfield CondorsAHL
Shane LachanceLW25915240.9620Boston UniversityNCAA
Tomas MazuraC114370.640BK Mlada BoleslavCzechia
Joel MäättäC25413170.6810University of VermontNCAA
William NichollC/LW451227390.8716London KnightsOHL
Sam O’ReillyC451826440.9822London KnightsOHL
Matvei PetrovLW/RW3186140.458Bakersfield CondorsAHL
Matthew SavoieC/W401219310.7816Bakersfield CondorsAHL
James StefanRW/LW332020.068Bakersfield CondorsAHL
Brady StonehouseRW/LW2887150.5422Peterborough PetesOHL
Dalyn WakelyC391921401.0339Barrie ColtsOHL
Cameron WrightRW/C3898170.4556Bakersfield CondorsAHL
Jacob PerreaultRW2728100.3733Bakersfield CondorsAHL

Defence

PlayerGPGAPP/GPPIMTeamLeague
Beau Akey37421250.6824Barrie ColtsOHL
Bauer Berry381230.0820Muskegon LumberjacksUSHL
Paul Fischer24213150.6310University of Notre DameNCAA
Philip Kemp405380.2028Bakersfield CondorsAHL
Luca Münzenberger2347110.4810University of VermontNCAA
Albin Sundin1800004Frölunda HCSHL
Maximus Wanner211120.1028Bakersfield CondorsAHL
Nikita Yevseyev361120.062Ak Bars KazanKHL
Robbie Attard342680.2440Bakersfield CondorsAHL

Goaltenders

PlayerGPGAASV%RecordSOTeamLeague
Nathaniel Day423.10.88918-16-52Flint FirebirdsOHL
Samuel Jonsson191.90.92116-2-05BIK KarlskogaHockeyAllsvenskan
Olivier Rodrigue262.78.91114-9-31Bakersfield CondorsAHL
Connor Ungar202.84.90113-7-01Fort Wayne CometsECHL
Eemil Vinni72.02.9104-3-00HIFK U20U20 SM-sarja

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