As the NHL’s trade deadline approaches, many contending teams are taking the opportunity to audition internally prior to making any moves. For the Edmonton Oilers this means giving top prospect Matthew Savoie a look in the NHL.
Can Savoie help upgrade the Oilers group? Where might be best fit in the lineup?
Let’s take a look at what Savoie brings to the ice with his first NHL game imminent.
Matthew Savoie’s career history
Drafted ninth overall in 2022, Savoie is a high end prospect that is usually near impossible for a contending team like the Oilers to acquire. After a surprising one for one trade with the Buffalo Sabres, Savoie got off to a slow start in the AHL during this—his rookie professional season. As the season progressed Savoie has found his way, thriving as a leading offensive piece for the Bakersfield Condors.
Savoie was drafted as a dynamic offensive centre, with the skating and puck skills to be a top scorer at the NHL level. There were concerns over his size, and that his production relied too much on rush chances and power play opportunities. After four seasons in the WHL, Savoie was shipped out by the Sabres, who have an abundance of young offensive talent, for the cost certainty and defence of Ryan McLeod. As usual the Sabres have fallen on their face this season, once again near the bottom of the league standings.
Meanwhile, Savoie has rounded out some of his game. He has gotten some praise for his defensive details in the AHL, all while showing off the offensive talents that got him drafted so high. Savoie did shift to the wing as a professional, which is not entirely unexpected. It would be ambitious to suggest that there will be a move back to the middle in the future, though his history here is a testament to his smarts and all around game.
Where does Savoie fit in the lineup?
Already there have been some encouraging signs from Oilers practice, as Savoie is skating on a line with Vasily Podkolzin and Leon Draisaitl. It can be difficult for offensive talents to make their presence felt lower in the lineup, so an audition alongside Draisaitl in a scoring role is exactly how Savoie should be deployed at the NHL level.
Though Savoie is a shooting threat, he is foremost a playmaker who can carry the puck through the neutral zone. Draisaitl does appreciate some help in this regard, though the burden on Savoie will be reduced alongside his superstar linemate. Both Savoie and Draisaitl appreciate Podkolzin’s hard nosed approach, a heavy player who can help make space for his ultra skilled linemates.
It will be a challenge for Savoie to avoid being too deferential to Draisaitl, a mental hurdle that the young forward will have to be ready for. There is no guarantee that Savoie is ready to be an impactful NHL scorer right now, but the skills are clearly present. Having taken some time to adjust to the AHL, Savoie might require some time to reach a similar level in the NHL. In all, Oiler fans should be very encouraged by Savoie’s progress this season, even if he is not yet ready to be an everyday NHL player.
Perhaps Savoie might be ready to trudge along in a depth role thanks to his positive defensive reviews, particularly alongside a two way presence like Adam Henrique. This might not be ideal for his development at this point, and the defensive assignments awaiting Henrique in the playoffs will be an ambitious task for Savoie regardless. Either way, he will have difficulty getting any significant power play time, which will hurt his offensive totals.
Jeff Skinner has fallen into this no man’s land, unable to consistently produce in the top-six and without power play time. While it might make sense to scratch Skinner from time to time or move him down the lineup, the same cannot be said for Savoie at this point. Savoie can still be sent back to the AHL, and arguably still has a bit to prove at that level. At the very least Oiler fans should be penciling Savoie into next season’s lineup.
Deadline implications for the Oileres
One of the lingering questions that might be answered by a brief NHL audition for Savoie at this point. With the trade deadline looming, the Oilers will need to be concise with their trade assets to improve the team. Their prospects pool is considered to be shallow, with Savoie accounting for most of the high end upside on his own. The Oilers are also without their 2025 first-round pick. Even before considering the delicate balance of the salary cap, the Oilers will be hard pressed to afford many upgrades, and will have to budget between their needs.
Chalked full of centre options, and with a variety of skills on the wings, the Oilers are a fairly deep team up front. Already Jeff Skinner has found his way down the lineup, and the potential for an Evander Kane return still exists. In all it is already a fairly crowded forward group. Some might be wanting for a dynamic secondary scoring option. Savoie essentially has the chance to supplant Skinner, as well as being some sort of reinforcement in case of injury.
In exploring some offensive reinforcements the Oilers appear to be more bullish on their defence and goaltending than most. Fans hoping for an upgrade in either area should be cheering for some positive signs from Savoie. If he is able to showcase a level of NHL readiness it should quell the urge for the Oilers to spend on upgrading their forward group.
Savoie’s utility could help the team in more ways than one
In the end the biggest takeaway should be that the Oilers appear to have a valuable offensive talent on the horizon. Even if Savoie is not ready to be a regular right now he is quickly earning his way into a top-six NHL role. This will be extremely valuable to the Oilers, not only for his play, but for the cap value he should bring to the table during the early 30s of Leon Drasaitl and Connor McDavid.
It was a bold manoeuvre to trade away Ryan McLeod, a young, cost effective, checking centre. It appears to be paying off in full as Savoie sets his course. Only time will tell if Savoie can make an impact right away, but young legs can be an important factor in surviving the attrition of the NHL playoffs.
There have been some famous examples of high end rookie making big contributions in the playoffs. Cale Makar and Tyler Seguin both had incredible playoff debuts as rookies, making near fundamental changes to their teams. All the same, Oilers fans might have expected Dylan Holloway to author a coming of age season over the past two playoffs.
At the very least Savoie has earned enough respect from the Oilers to have earned a look in this spot. Due to his superstar teammates Savoie is unlikely to become a franchise altering player this season, but by the same token he has a chance to put up significant scoring numbers. If the Oilers are able to achieve their goal this season every player on the team will be remembered fondly.
Savoie definitely has the skill and the opportunity to be known as one of the finer rookies in NHL playoff history if he is able to take hold of this spot long term. Whether he is able to is another question altogether. At the very least it will be a lot of fun to get a look at how Savoie fits in the lineup, but any steps forward for Savoie over the next handful of seasons will be a reason for optimism across Oil Country.
Follow The Oil Rig on social media!
One Comment