MATTHEW SAVOIE LANDS ON THE ATHLETIC’S TOP 100 NHL PROSPECTS LIST
When the Edmonton Oilers acquired Matthew Savoie from the Buffalo Sabres earlier this summer, they immediately landed the new top prospect in their system.
The St. Albert native was selected with the first-overall pick in the 2019 WHL Draft by the Winnipeg Ice. He spent the 2020-21 season in the USHL and then joined the Ice in 2021-22 and scored 35 goals and 90 points over 65 games. The Sabres selected Savoie with the ninth-overall pick in the draft that summer.
His two post-draft seasons thus far have been limited by injuries, but Savoie has been very productive when healthy. In 2023-24, Savoie scored 19 goals and 47 points over 23 regular-season games with the Moose Jaw Warriors and helped the team win the WHL Championship with 24 points in 19 playoff games. He also scored five points in six games for Buffalo’s AHL affiliate.
“One of the most threatening and consistently dangerous players in the CHL over the last three years, Savoie’s game has the potential to thrill when he’s at his best. He’s got extremely quick side-to-side hands that help him beat defenders one-on-one off of cuts. He’s got an NHL shot (which he can place with pinpoint accuracy from a bad angle and rip by a goalie clean from a distance, but he also loves to change up and slide five-hole). He does an excellent job creating plays to the slot out of traffic. He’s a burning skater with explosiveness and quick three-step acceleration that allows him to win races, separate in transition and put defenders onto their heels, or dash through holes in coverage to the net (or draw a penalty). He’s a soft, small-area passer who blends deception into his movements.
And then on top of those things, he’s got a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He’s always engaged, he keeps his feet moving, he plays with a ton of energy, and he finishes his checks and knocks his fair share of players over despite being on the smaller side. He’s also sturdier on his feet than his listed height (5-foot-9) might suggest, which helps him play between checks. He creates a ton of breakaways for himself. It’s so hard for defensemen to track him when he gets into twists and turns. He’s impressive in the shootout with a variety of moves he can go to. He routinely has a half step on the opposition, both in jump and in raw speed whenever he turned on the jets. He plays the game with such drive that his size usually doesn’t feel like a factor. He seems to pounce on so many pucks when they squirt into holes in coverage.”
The Oilers are coming into the 2024-25 season with a very similar roster to the one that reached Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in the spring. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Adam Henrique figure to be the team’s top three centres, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Jeff Skinner, Viktor Arvidsson, Dylan Holloway, Corey Perry, and Evander Kane are all options to play on their wings.
Given the forward depth in Edmonton, Savoie will likely start the season with the Bakersfield Condors. He’ll be among the team’s top call-up options if one of their top-nine forwards gets injured and could force his way into an opportunity with the big-league club if he scores at a high level in the AHL.
Wheeler noted in his analysis of Savoie that the move from Buffalo to Edmonton was a positive one for the player because being the top prospect in a team’s system means he’ll be the top choice for many opportunities. We might see Savoie get an extended look with McDavid or Draisaitl as early as this upcoming season.
“I remain a firm believer in [Savoie] becoming a high-tempo, top-nine, play-creation type, and his likelihood of becoming that increased with the move from Buffalo to Edmonton, where he’s now the top prospect in the Oilers pool. He’s an exciting talent, with PP1 upside due to his shooting/skill package and five-on-five upside because of his skating and motor. Even in games where the points don’t fall, he’s almost always dangerous and threatening on the ice — and he’s seldom going to leave you wanting more. His speed might even make him a useful penalty killer to give him all-situations value as well.”
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