These are the even-strength totals for AHL rookies in the 2014-15 AHL season. During this period, I was convinced that the even-strength scoring numbers were a better indicator of NHL success. However, the truth is that the players who play on an AHL power play at 20 have a good chance of making the NHL in a ‘middle-six’ role. How well do players who emerge as top line performers score? They don’t spent much (or any) time in the league. Same as it ever was.
THOUGHTS ON NHL READY PROSPECTS
I’ve always believed (and Earl Weaver taught me) that when a young player is ready to compete at a certain level the best thing to do is elevate him to that level immediately. Don’t put him in a position to fail, but rather take the things he does well and place him in ideal circumstances at the higher level. I think the monetary argument is a secondary consideration (honestly) and that player development should be the only real concern.
If Matthew Savoie scores eight goals in his first 20 AHL games, send for him. I believe he’ll be a better player one year from now because he would be showing the ability to handle extreme challenges at speed. It is a major step, and if he can do it at this age we may be staring at a scoring star for the rest of the decade and beyond. I believe this to be true.
We’ve talked a lot about Savoie this summer, but I’d like to talk about him as an injury replacement for a skill winger as early as opening night. Let’s say someone arrives in camp injured and isn’t ready. There are abundant veteran replacements, but for me I’d like to see Savoie play with one of the Glimmer Twins for a game or two in the exhibition season.
The learning curve will be enormous, and there would be growing pains. If he’s scoring goals at this age then the Oilers should work on the things he needs to improve while helping him gain confidence at the highest level in the world. I think Savoie is headed for the AHL. The more interesting question is what if he’s ready for the NHL?
If Savoie is ready, play him. I’m not buying any kind of slow play to hold down his next contract. Why? The Oilers have a chance to win the Stanley Cup this year. Savoie is an outstanding prospect. He might be able to help this season. Seriously.
The Lowdown hits at noon today, Sports 1440. Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation will join us to talk about the Draisaitl contract speculation, we’ll spend extended time talking Olympics and of course MLB, CFL and more. I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly.
I think Anaheim might be missing the boat on Gustav Lindstrom. He isn’t flashy, but when I read up on him he plays a solid game including thinking the game well enough, gapping tight and staying tight on the hip of attackers, and moving the puck pretty well under pressure. Will jump into the play at times. I think we may see him pop somewhere if he doesn’t go home to play
Some stats:
TOI/GP 14:43 7th among players over 250min (only Zellweger and Fowler over 16min)
FF% 45.49 5th
SF% 46.13 4th
GF% 67.65 1st
xGF% 46.60 3rd
HDCF% 47.20 1st
HDGF% 65.22 1st
OFF ZONE START% 45.05 5th
ON ICE SV% 94.91 1st by 3.18 (this is so much higher it makes me think he played a part in this)
DFF% Elite 51.1
DFF%RC Elite +10.5 Middle +8.3
It seems they sheltered him looking at other stats, but he did very well. I’m not sure what’s going on with this guy, but he’s 6’2 195 lbs, 25 RSD, and some very interesting stats. He doesn’t have much offense, but had 6A in 32 GP and +12 on the Ducks who had a goal diff of -90. Verbeek didn’t qualify him after plucking him from Montreal and was in Detroit when they drafted him second round. Is he gassy on the plane or something? Likes his beers?
In Montreal he played 14 games, DFF% Elite 29.9 Middle 54.5 Grit 26.20. GF% Elite 66.7 Middle 50 Grit 0. Is he the new Kris Russell putting up these goals shares?
‘Gustav’ Forsling wasn’t seen as good enough by the Hawks (!) but once the Panthers gave him a part season and then a full one at 26 he took off in +/- and points. I think the Oilers’ stats guys should find this fella and heads up Bowman, might be something there, for free
Came home and tried to watch some Lindstrom games against Oilers
I don’t have much time but in a game he played they lost 5-3 not on for a GA
Checked his NST pairing results, with good partners excellent goal shares. Not so with lesser
So now I think he is the high end complimentary partner for a good player. Won’t be expensive. And I think this year with Nurse. I also noticed what a deadly player a healthish Kane is. As GM no way I keep Ceci Kulak and move Kane
It’s all about playoffs. Platoon Stecher Lindstrom Brown and if need be do a deadline deal. May not need to. Move Kulak Ceci and keep Kane
I read an old scout report from 2019 that said he needed to work on his foot speed. Some reports suggest that he’s good at passing and plays a simple game without much offensive upside.
His NHL Edge data isn’t great, unfortunately. Slow boots.
I don’t know much about Lindstrom, but he fits the profile of exactly the type of player you want to kick the tires on.
25-years-old
plays on a bad team
6’2. RHD. 194 lbs.
Swedish.
Former 2nd round draft pick
And named Gustav.
Agree he looks like someone would could just maybe turn into something more.
The flip side is that three separate poor teams have passed on him in just over a year. And none of the rest of the league appears to be interested this summer.
Lindstrom does fit the profile, but Gustav Forsling’s don’t turn into Gustav Forsling very often.
I had taken a quick look at Forsling’s old stats and I don’t recall much jumping out that suggested he would spike.
The NHL Edge data is interesting to me. Forsling’s top speed, for example, is quite a bit above the NHL average. However, he’s somehow also below the 50th percentile. Is the speed heavily skewed?
For the playoffs, he was even faster. 86th percentile.
At the very least, Forsling speed seems more than adequate.
Slow boots could be a killer for Lindstrom.
You may well be right about speed being a big limiting factor for Lindstrom.
And yeah, I had a look a Forsling’s stats a couple of weeks ago too. I couldn’t find a damn thing that would suggest he was going to turn into a top 4D (I guess 1st pair is more fair).
A bit more than 120 games across three seasons with Chicago and he was losing his minutes across the board. Not putting up points, not playing difficult minutes.
I’d be really interested if someone has something statistical to suggest Forsling was going to become a good defenseman.
His skating allowed it, but it’s not like he’s a standout skater where that carried him to becoming a high end player.
I feel like Florida finding him had to be a combination of ‘saw him good traditional scouting’ and ‘blind damn luck’.
Not at all sure how to weight those two, but certainly Florida has benefited in a big way from it. Florida has ‘found’ a number of other players too, so that would suggest a potential strength in organizational saw him good scouting.
That could be it. Something seems off given the stats that look good in a lot of ways
With the poor teams, like Montreal, for example he had all of Savard, Kovacevic ahead of him, and probably Barron with Mailloux knocking at the door. If he was even with any of these guys, they would find him expendable as he is not valued in the same ballpark as all their young D are.
Same goes for Anaheim. Luneau is coming and they probably want to clear the deck to give youth like Helleson and Warren a clear runway, if not in Anaheim, for sure in San Diego. It is curious that Puckpedia shows Gudas as the sole RHD on the roster.
Anaheim also has 47 players signed, and it seems that most teams like to leave 3-4 open spots. Or he is probably vocal about his dislike for Mario Cart.
I honestly wonder about something like this.
Multiple teams have taken a flyer on him. He’s had decent results and is only 25, but they’ve seemingly moved on pretty quick. It’s a bit odd tbh.
Another RD bites the dust.
Kings sign Jordan Spence 2 X $1.5 million.
Also known as: Team signs young restricted free agent to bridge deal in normal course.
No, smart gms lock up young talent long term… or to two year bridge contracts… or, I guess I’m confused now. Fill me in HH, what am I missing.
Spence is a former 4th round pick finding his way in the NHL.
Not a core piece you lock up long term.
That’s odd – I have been reading posts about his emergence for a couple of year’s now.
If this player is a 4th round picking find his way in NHL and not a core piece then why a specific post/thread about him with “another RD bites the dust”.
Geez!
A scarce commodity becomes more scarce.
Why bother arguing with that thing? Save your ample knowledge for a worthy conversation.
Isn’t that for the sign and trade to the Oilers?
Oilers don’t have a steady third line center at the moment. . I think this has been on the table for a while.
They wanted Holloway taking reps as center. They want Savoie taking reps at center.
Macleod was doing okay but I think they were looking at replacements last year.
Nuge would do fine, but shown his value on wing. Henrique is good in playoffs but will have to cut his pace back to play a full season. Both good players but placeholders if they line up at 3C
I think it might be Holloway at 3C by Christmas.
I think the team is quite comfortable with Henrique playing full time 3C and a depth PK role.
I think Holloway might be 2L and Arvidsson 3L for points.
Gretzky talked about how much better Holloway was in the AHL after they switched him back to wing from center.
Henrique played 983 minutes last season, that would put him ahead of Mcleod and 7th on the Oilers for the season. He was 6th in TOI.GP at 12:43 on the Oilers
Assuming they have a normal start and that the forwards are deeper, he should be fine. I think the issue is at 4C as Ryan was 8:25 TOI/GP, and he struggled in season and playoffs by the numbers
If they move Henrique up there isn’t a replacement really. Nuge has had issues at C the last while. Maybe with better wingers it would be OK. Also, the Oilers seem to see almost all forwards as wingers, don’t seem to like Holloway there
Henrique is the perfect 3-C he’ll be licking his chops with the fresh air he’ll recieve.
During Henrique’s 6 plus seasons with Anaheim the Ducks were -204 goals at 5v5.
Henrique himself was +17 at 5v5 in his time with the Ducks.
Henrique is the best 3C the Oilers have had in a long, long time, IMO. And I really don’t think Holloway will be taking his job this season.
Condors sign the following to AHL 2-way deals:
Brett Bochu
Darren Brady
Tyler Inamoto
Alex Swetlikoff
At this point I know a grand total of nothing about these players and am not sure if we are talking about ECHL assignments or AHL assignments.
Given “AHL 2-way deals”, I presume we are talking about ECHL players mainly.
I’m only familiar with Brochu and think he’s great depth at the ECHL level. Undersized but put up a .920 there as a rookie last season and was OHL goalie of the year a couple yrs back I believe, as well as on WJC team previously. He and Ungar sharing the crease in Fort Wayne is very solid in my opinion.
Is Tyler Inamoto just Kailer Yamamoto in a fake moustache?
At 6’2″ 194lbs Tyler might be two Kailers in a trenchcoat.
Yakapov with 62 goals is still leading the race with Yamamoto at 58 and Jesse with 54 career Goals.
Why Jeff Marek was turfed.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5673003/2024/08/01/jeff-marek-sportsnet-nhl-draft-removed/?source=user_shared_articleWhy was a beloved hockey broadcaster pulled off the air?
I must be thinly one who couldn’t stand Marek? Id shut off the radio as soon as he came on.
Every interview he ever did he would laugh at everything whomever he was interviewing said, joke or not. Like the guy who ends every text with lol but in person.
Agreed, not my cup of tea. However as a foil to Elliotte, he was great. Every Don needs their Ron. Without the straight man, the shtick is obnoxious. Elliotte, as connected as he is, really likes the sound of his own voice.
Kane Mcd Hyman
Skinner Drai Arvi
RNH Henrique Savoie
Janmark Holloway Brown
The depth of the Oilers forward group is insane
I was just looking at the forward group Holland had to slap together because there was no cap to fill out the roster with actual NHL players.
Benson, Cave, Jurco, Marcus Granlund, Patrick Russell, Nygard, Haas seem like so long ago.
McDavid, Draisaitl & Nuge the only three remaining five years later.
Watching Holland trying to find competent wingers which is the easiest position to fill was painful. Let’s see how many goals Leons wingers get this year. I’m calling it right now Kris (Coffey) will open it up for the boys and will see 40 plus more goals teamwise.
I like how there’s no sign of Ryan or Perry. But wonder how Kane can be playing on the top line at this stage of his career.
I think it was shown he still produces at good levels when healthy. If he’s not, one of the guys you mentioned can come in.
I like the third line. Sheltering Savoie by playing him against third line comp, with two offensively talented and defensively aware veterans, sets him up for success imo
Depends on what is defined as producing.
There are a lot of things that need to happen before the puck leaves the goal scorers stick. Yet we tend to see just the one guy as producing.
Kane produces what nobody else in the line up does. With no Kane, or no Kane replacement, it is irrelevant how much depth the forwards seem to have, it won’t be enough.
Savoie`s 22-23 season scoring is comparable to Yamo’s 16-17 output. IF other similarities exist, Savoie will probably not receive from a good team a similar opportunity that Yamo got on what was a ho hum team.
OMG I hope Matthew Savoie and Kailer Yamamoto aren’t comparable.
Yamamoto has only one excellent year in junior, in his draft year, and only one good half season in the NHL offensively.
Savoie was excellent every year in junior.
Savoie was over 2 points per game in the WHL (and 5 points in 6 games in the AHL which was near the beginning of the year when he was just 19 and coming off an injury, no camp).
If you have watched enough of Savoie to form a opinion who is a comparable? Does he have edge? Is a gamer? Does he play larger than his size? Is he crafty-shifty? Does he have a above average shot release? I can’t believe Jackson filled a bit of the cookie jar up front with Savoie and O’Reilly. Now he needs to find a few hidden gems on D for Bakersfield.
I don’t necessarily disagree but, for me, I’m thinking more like 47 points in 43 games is the type of season and timeline for a call-up – kind of similar to Stankoven last year.
Of course, injuries at the top will be a big factor here.
The other thing is that, producing early in the AHL is one thing but carrying that for the full season is another.
Savoie will be looking to produce at the AHL level but he’ll need to do so nightly against big and strong men that will be trying to take a physical toll on him and not to mention the grueling schedule of the AHL as compared to the CHL.
He’ll also be loving “on his own”, that is no billet family, so will have the cooking and lifestyle obligations – I’m sure he’ll be rooming with at least a couple other guys so not quite “alone” but won’t have a family taking care of him.
They are still currently short two forwards. Ryan and Perry seem like they should be 13/14 at their ages, seeing half the games or something as injury cover. But who knows what Perry discussed with Jackson. I don’t like the idea of relying on Ryan as 4C. Really like the player, but he has declined based on last season and playoff numbers
Maybe they will wait to see how fast Savoie shows it’s time, and how fast Philp gets up to speed, could end up something like
93 97 18
53 29 33
91 19 Savoie
13 Philp 28
55
90
Ryan and Brown to the AHL. Holloway at 950K, Bro 1.1M. But they are still 2.166M over the cap. One of Ceci, Kulak or Kane would be dealt if it went like this
As of right now, I have both D. Ryan and C. Perry in the AHL (along with J. Brown) to start the season.
That is the path to cap compliance with no LTIR or trade.
Perry down and replaced by Lavoie or Pederson or Philp or Hamblin saves $375K on the cap and allows for apx $1,920,000 to get Broberg and Holloway signed (which would mean one year deals).
I don’t know if they will waive Perry to start the season but I don’t think its a coincidence that his base cap hit is right at the amount that can be fully buried in the AHL.
Perhaps. I’m not sure why Perry would sign with the chance he might go down to the A. Ryan would have no choice and doesn’t have the career Perry does
I don’t think its a coincidence that Perry signed for the exact amount that can be buried without a remaining cap hit.
At the same time, I don’t think they do waive him to start which would essentially mean they need to use LTIR or a trade to get cap compliant (or run a 20 player roster which isn’t happening).
Perry did have 12 goals in like 50 something games last season – he couldn’t keep up in the playoffs but can still pitch in during regular season pace.
Perry has to be used correctly to be effective, he’s been really slow for years
It works but that’s not a great way to stay for very long
If Ceci is traded, he needs to be replaced on the roster. It’s debatable if Stecher & Brown are good enough or even an upgrade over Ceci. But maybe they are, and the price is right.
If Kulak is traded, Broberg could inherit his 3LHD position. But who plays with Nurse?
It comes down to Stecher & Brown again.
Kane may not even facilitate a trade, though the team seems ready to move on from him, yet he certainly is valuable to the team. For me Kane is the big question mark.
Something has to give because that has to be the way they’re headed eventually. Signing Broberg & Holloway is imperative I would think.
On the other hand, there most likely are ways to shuffle the roster around, do nothing and still be cap compliant. Things will always be up in the air, it’s the nature of the beast.
I think Stecher is a better player than Ceci
I don’t know if he is a better player since I haven’t seen much of him the last couple of seasons but a better fit stylistically with Nurse for sure.
I’m not sure how Stecher would fare over a full season, but I like the way he played more
More assertive and aware. Ceci Stecher and Brown are all limited players. I want to see Brown play, if he can defend and do some other things well enough I see him as a great partner for Bro at this stage, Bro needs a net clearer and someone to keep it real for the meatheads out there
Stecher is a warrior.
Different type of player.
Career usage from coaches indicates otherwise.
The coaches didn’t have a lot of options RS. The Coyotes ran D TOI/GP very evenly, ~1:30 between highest and Stecher
For me trying Ceci again is really ill advised. It hasn’t worked over two seasons. And he’s too expensive for 3RD on a cap tight team. We don’t know the plans we’ll see
Meh – I don’t think about individual cap hits being too much for a specific position once we have a cap compliant roster.
$3.25MM is too much for 3RD but, of course, he’ll likely play many minutes up the lineup as is often on the top PK unit (played 55 minutes of PK in the playoffs without giving up a goal). Also offset by a 1RD at $3.9MM and a 2RD at apx $1MM in this scenario.
I don’t think its quite clear that both Stecher and Brown are not upgrades on Ceci.
Kane is currently building a house in Edmonton – not sure he’s amenable to waiving his NMC and, when it becomes a M-NTC, I’m sure he can essentially kybosh any trade with a targeted list.
There’s the debate with Stecher & Brown, it remains to be seen. However, the price is right and that is important.
An argument can be made that this is where the Oilers have failed their prospect forwards over the last couple of years.
The general premise has been “win now” and filling the lineup with vets and reducing “rookie mistakes” and the “offensive minded tweeners” have been asked/forced to change their game – the likes of Benson and Lavoie come to mind.
Both those guys were told they’d never make it as a top 6 type player in the NHL or even on a “skilled 3rd line” – they have both been told that they need to be grinder type players to make it on the Oilers.
Lavoie pretty much said exactly that to Gregor last week.
Now Benson was probably never going to make it in the NHL as his boots and lack of a shot prohibited him from being able to use his offensive vision and passing at the NHL level but Lavoie could maybe actually be a complimentary goal scorer in the top 6 but we’ll likely never find out – at least as an Oiler.
How do you view Lavoie as a compared to Savoie?
I don’t think I can really answer the question as, to be honest, I’ve never seen Matt Savoie play a game.
I do know they are vastly different players starting with their size.
I presume that Lavoie is more NHL ready, I mean, he’s a true man now that has been through the rigors of an AHL season multiple times and has NHL experience.
Lavoie is as ready as he’s ever going to be but I think there is a difference. Is very clear the org doesn’t see Lavoie as a top 6 players at the NHL level and he’ll likely never get a real opportunity in this org (unless he somehow manages a two-goal game from the bottom six, Kostin style).
I presume the org sees Savoie as a top 6 player long term.
I bet you Savoie gets better linemates at camp even if Lavoie is more likely to play games in the NHL this calendar year.
I just feel Lavoie is built for the bottom six. Not sure if he can get his head around that. But he will have to. Savoie needs to start somewhere and if he’s ready starting him out with a couple solid vets in Janmark & Henrique might be his ticket to the NHL.
I suppose the same could be said for Lavoie on the other side of the spectrum, maybe ( Lavoie-Henrique-Brown). Savoie from what I understand is much more skilled. I guess we’ll see.
Lavoie is the shooter for Savoie and Holloway.
Lavoie and Holloway are the size for Savoie.
Holloway and Savoie’s speed compensate for Lavoie’s mediocre skating.
Holloway and Lavoie do the cycle board work for Savoie.
Maybe three years from now.
Pretty sure the org made the call on Lavoie last year.
He has size but showed little bite.
If there is another opportunity to swap prospects again, I think Lavoie is high on the list to be swapped out. Just opinion.
Won’t be surprised if Savoie is on the team by American Thanksgiving regardless of big team injuries.
He’s got the high end skill that blossoms in the bigs, keeping him in the minors to learn the game seems a bit ridiculous imo.
The Oilers have the veterans that would definitely insulate and grow a couple young forwards.
You want to keep the old legs well rested during the season, play the hell out of 3 young fellas with that youthful bounce.
Holloway/Savoie/Lavoie as a kid line playing 10-12 a night definitely helps build towards playoff insulation.
Except they signed a bunch of forwards. Maybe if someone craps the bed (Brown) or Ryan can’t do it anymore, but 4th line C doesn’t seem like the right spot
Yeah, insulate Savoie & Lavoie with Holloway. That makes total sense LOL.
The other three lines insulate this line.
How often would they see the ice as a fourth line? Holloway is certainly NHL ready.
It’s too risky playing three youngsters together. There have been some great kid lines
(Gelinas-Graves-Murphy) I’m just not sure (Lavoie-Holloway-Savoie) is ready yet.
Commit to playing four lines.
They could commit to playing four lines with a sprinkling of youth.
More like
Nuge-McDavid-Hyman
J.Skinner-Leon-Arvidsson
Kane/ Holloway-Henrique-Savoie
Janmark-Philp-Brown
One of the Oilers main weaknesses over the years was a lack of commitment to team defence. Where is the right place to learn the nuances of defensive play? I maintain it’s probably not the NHL. Being burned by stars with extreme skill does not build confidence. Let Savoie learn the full skill set:scoring goals and playing defence (and getting lots of ice time) in the development league, AHL, and away from the spotlight. Then bring him up when he is ready. That is the best way to set him up for success.
The Oilers now have a roster laden with veterans that probably allows them to better insulate a young player, better than in the past. I’m not saying they will. But the possibility is there. Heck they may consider sending some aging vets down to mentor on the farm.
This is definitely the way. Will Savoie score in the NHL? Likely. Will he play the rest of the game the right way, right away? Likely not. If he crushes the AHL as a #1 centre, PP1, PK1 then bring him up. If not, teach him until he does.
Do you think he wouldn’t learn how to play the right way in the NHL alongside a couple solid veteran two-way forwards like Mattias Janmark & Adam Henrique or with big league coaching? With this Oiler team there’s a better opportunity for a young player to develop quicker at the NHL level. This is no longer the decade of darkness. Have you looked at the roster lately?
I’m not saying it’s the right thing for all prospects. But it wouldn’t surprise me to see a rookie playing on this Oiler roster and being better for it.
The AHL is also full of bone crushers who feast on smaller first round picks.
….and the NHL isn’t?
Dog days of summer… happy August all!
Probably a little rusty but I’d like to see Savoie get the same treatment as Zary if he can put up a quality season in the AHL. When Zary was brought up he played in the top 6 and scored his first game. I have no idea why I watched that game, perhaps it was earlier than the Oilers and it was on in the background.
I believe the stats show this is a comparable player, if he can produce close to Zary in his 21-22 or even better the 22-23 season a call up is a no brainer.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/351805/connor-zary
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/476028/matthew-savoie
For contending teams.
The top six is dead. Long live the top nine.
Am I correct in assuming that when you use the word ‘top’ it refers to lines whose principle purpose/skill is offensive rather than defensive or do you have a different idea in mind when you separate the tiers?
All top three lines on contending teams are two way lines, expected to perform on offense and defense. And the fourth line, at a minimum, is expected to perform on defense, and sawing off..
OK, thanks for the clarification on how you view their roles.
I’d rather see all four lines rock ‘n roll.
Let me add, I see the forth lane having more one dimensional or expertise players such as penalty kill.
I see his path as a RW too. Which is why I find it so interesting that management told chaulk to play him as a C. If we expect to resign Drai And Connor, and Savoie is a top 6 player, then I don’t quite get it. But I’m. Just an armchair QB…
I can see 2 possible reasons. One, the oilers seem to value versatility as evidenced by the many wingers we have who can also play C. Two, center has more defensive responsibilities and may give more opportunities to work on the two-way game. I like the idea either way, as his scoring ability isn’t a question, but the defensive side is likely the thing that hinders him at the NHL level
The Oilers really, really, really need Right-Handed Centres (Derek Ryan and Sam Carrick didn’t cut it last year). McDavid and Drai can’t play the whole game so Savoie being able to play 2C or 3C ideally allows us to load up the top line while still having an outscoring second line.
Org did the same with Holloway when he got sent down last season.
They did and Gretzky admitted that it wasn’t working and he was much better when they shifted him back to wing.
I don’t know if they should play Savoie in the top six. It’s just that the top six is a tough nut to crack with this team. But There’s plenty of veteran savy that a young player can learn from in the bottom six that could be valuable. For instance, I could definitely see Savoie play on a third line with Henrique & Janmark. Those two are seasoned pros and the youngster could certainly learn the ins and outs of how to play at the NHL level.
The problem with this is that the Oilers top 9 is probably the best it’s been for decades. And we have a history of hammering square pegs into round holes – “You want your shot? Then crash and bang for 7 mins a night on the 4th line.” Literally asking players to play roles they never have. Like in comedy, timing is everything. Savoie should ideally be arriving as one of the others price themselves out of the team by also playing well.
I’m not so sure crash & bang is they type of game Savoie plays. He’s no Evander Kane. But then who knows what Evander Kane will bring to the table this year?
I’m not sure but Matthew Savoie might be a Cole Caufield type. He’s even wearing the same number 22. I think he may be better than CC.
By the looks of the roster Savoie will play the year in AHL unless there are injuries. I think he will replace Skinner next season, who most likely will not play for 3M. Being a smaller player a year to train and develop isn’t the worst thing for him, but he is going to light up the A and if he stays healthy, next year he should play with the Oilers, there won’t be a good reason to not play him
It will be interesting to see. Because there are some old farts looking to play on the roster. But they could also consider injecting some youthful energy into the line up now that MacLeod & Foegele are gone, sooner rather than later.
Skinner will be 33 at the end of next season. He’s made over $100 million in his career.
Its not always about money.
That’s true. I said him because Savoie should play top 6 and he has a 1 year deal, but 3rd line would work if it’s not a checking line
There is no point using an offensively talented small player as a checker. But it is the Oilers so you never know, even with different people running them now organizational personality is surprisingly resilient
The other forwards with a year left are Brown, Perry, and Ryan. So perhaps it’s Brown. Lavoie will also probably be ready next season if they keep him, he’s close now
Yea agreed, a year out re-tooling of the 3rd line seems like the most obvious choice to me too. Give Savoie a skilled but vet centre in Henrique.
There could be a world where he finds himself up on the top two. Nuge could see a different role a year from now and could rotate winger spots based on the competition. Up with McD against top comp, down on the 3rd against lesser. Give guys a chance to play with the Uber skill. Going to have to break in faster boots up there at some point.
Another way to look at it is to divide the season into mini-seasons.
I see a pre-season, a season until the trade deadline, post trade deadline, post season as distinct sections.
I expect to see a lot of Savoie in the pre-season with high potential for him to play in the post season similar to how Holloway and then Broberg entered the fray.
Injuries, of course, have a way of changing things.
Hopefully not!
I really don’t want to see how slow a Perry- Ryan- Henrique is!
They had done exactly this with Lavoie – the org has flat up told him he’s not going to play on the Oilers in the top 6 or the PP and, if he’s going to play, he needs to focus on finishing checks and beings strong on the boards.
I don’t think they’ll do that with Savoie – I’m fairly confident Savoie will get line rushes at camp and exhibition games with more established and skilled linemates than Lavoie.
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100% agree LT. I have said many times if the young player is a better hockey player, use them. My opinion largely coming from the last 3 playoffs and Mr Slow play populating the roster with vets just because they were, that couldn’t do enough, making mistakes and losing battles
This playoffs we saw young players taking key roles, sometimes from more experienced players, some with few at bats because of decisions made. We also saw vet players making key mistakes that lost games, one a game 7, so the mistake argument is a wash at best
Bruce Curlock has a piece up about Savoie. He sees him as a sure bet for the NHL because of his talents, and soon. As it has to be with small players to me he is an excellent fast skater and high skill. He also likes to play in the middle if the ice and uses his brains and skating to go up against bigger players, strong on his skates
Jackson robbed Buffalo. McLeod is no where near as good a player, and many see Tulio as having no real NHL chance. I’m not sure given how many good wingers they have if Savoie gets his shot this season, but next for sure. If he takes a job that is great, especially if they need to trade someone because of it, gain some assets. This is the ideal scenario
Totally agree on Savoie. I would love to see what he can do in a top 6 RW role for at least a couple of exhibition games and a 3rd line of Holloway – Henrique – Savoie is very intriguing as well.
Janmark-Henrique-Savoie
Holloway-Ryan/Philp-Brown
They could slide Evander Kane in there sometime too.