It’s always good to see a young NHL player take that next step in their career. They’ve spent their time in junior, played their way through the AHL, but just haven’t been able to find a solid spot in the lineup with the big club.
Then one day something seems to click. The puck starts going in, the hustle starts paying off, maybe they even get a bump in ice-time. They’ve taken that leap in their career and can continue to build from here.
As an early Christmas gift to the Edmonton Oilers, what I just described is happening for Matt Savoie. The 21-year-old winger has hit his stride as of late, and I want to talk about what he’s been doing well, and how his impact will be important as Edmonton’s season continues.
Savoie ustles hard and plays smart
Although he was primarily hyped coming out of the WHL for his scoring talents (256 points in 161 career games), Savoie’s biggest upside at the NHL level so far has been his hustle. Savoie is fast and forechecks hard, not giving his opponents time to breathe when they’ve got the puck. He’s defensively responsible enough to be trusted on the first penalty killing unit, alongside Adam Henrique.
Savoie’s defensive positioning has also been impressive to watch. He’s rarely caught in a bad spot, and due to his quick feet, any lapses in defensive coverage on his end can be covered in a few strides. He’s not very big physically, listed at 5’10” and 179lbs, but you wouldn’t know it from watching him play away from the puck. His forechecking style reminds me of former Oiler Kailer Yamamoto, who similarly played above his billed height and weight with his style. However, I think Savoie is smarter defensively, and is less undersized than Yamamoto was.
Offence is staring to come along
One of the knocks on Savoie to begin the year was that he wasn’t making the most out of his offensive chances. He did indeed look a bit tentative to generate offence earlier in the season, but he was also being asked to be one of the main net-front presences, a role he didn’t have much experience with.
Once Edmonton got Zach Hyman back, Savoie’s offensive game improved quickly, partially due to Hyman taking over net-front duties, although I’m sure Hyman has shown Savoie some tips on how best to succeed in that area. Recently, as Oilers Coach Kris Knoblauch has reunited Hyman with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the first line, Savoie has found a home with Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin on the second line.
Podkolzin and Savoie are the dream wingers for Draisaitl, two fast players who forecheck like banshees and have a good sense of positioning. Savoie plays best when he’s able to play off of the other two guys on his line; with Draisaitl and Podkolzin, he can play a looser version of Hyman’s net-front role with more opportunity to come open for Draisaitl’s passes.
Last week against Seattle, Savoie had his best game as a pro with two goals. One goal came from a goalmouth scramble, showing his ability to score in tight. The other was a beautiful backhander on a breakaway, his second solo opportunity of the game. He might not get the Calder votes some thought he could achieve this season, but he’s beginning to look more and more comfortable, and more importantly, capable in the Oilers top-six.
Why Savoie is important
The importance of smart, talented wingers on the Oilers should be self-explanatory, but Savoie’s role goes deeper than that. He’s also the main face of a youth movement slowly making its way into Edmonton’s lineup. Savoie and Isaac Howard were positioned as the two young guns on this year’s Oilers team, and although Howard was eventually sent down to the AHL for increased playing time, that was Savoie’s last season.
He played four games in the NHL last season and although he didn’t look overmatched, it was clear he needed a bit more time. When he returned to the AHL, he was given big minutes in all situations, and the difference in his play is clear to see this season. This development plan has already begun to show results for Howard, who has similarly been playing in all game states.
More than just a development marker, Savoie is positioning himself to enter the shoes of one of Edmonton’s most disappointing roster moves. The loss of Dylan Holloway after the 2024 Stanley Cup Final due to an offer sheet was a preventable one, and a move the Oilers came to regret as Holloway immediately broke out with the St. Louis Blues. In those playoffs, Holloway began to really emerge like Savoie has, and it was clear he was taking that important next step. Savoie has a chance to essentially replace Holloway’s position as the young, skilled winger in the Oilers top-six.
Crucially, Savoie also is being trusted with more responsibility than Holloway was, with his penalty killing a chief example. He’s beginning to earn the coaches’ trust, a very big step for a young player to take.
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Don’t repeat the same mistakes
If Savoie does become the Holloway replacement, it’s clear the Oilers will not allow an opportunity for him to be poached like Holloway was. Edmonton has reportedly discussed internally not allowing something like that situation to occur again. It stands to reason that they have no interest in walking Savoie all the way to the last year of his rookie contract without a new deal in place.
Given that his entry-level deal expires in the 2026–27 offseason, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Oilers re-sign Savoie after this season to a bridge-style deal. The Oilers could lock up an important younger player while giving themselves room to work inside the salary cap. If he continues to ascend, then they can re-negotiate in four or five years where they have a larger body of work to reflect on for his “big boy” contract.
Matt Savoie will be an important part of the next era of Oilers hockey, and it’s encouraging to see the signs of a player getting ready to take the next leap in his development. If he keeps up his recent level of play, he’ll be getting there sooner rather than later.
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