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The Oilers can’t risk going all season without signing Savoie to extension

Photo credit: © Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

By Ryley Delaney

Sep 20, 2026, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 20, 2026, 13:41 EDT

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In recent times, teams across the National Hockey League have been signing young, high-potential players with limited action to long-term deals.

Back in early August, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed Ville Koivunen to an eight-year deal with a cap hit worth $4 million. Following that, Zeev Buium, Noah Östlund, Ryan Leonard, and Justin Sourdif signed eight-year extensions; Fraser Minten signed a seven-year extension; Braeden Bowman signed a six-year extension; and Luke Evangelista signed a five-year extension.

These players show some similarities. While they range from top-10 picks to undrafted, all seven players are 24 years old or younger and have shown promise in limited NHL games. Evangelista is the outlier, playing 259 games. The next closest is Minten, who has played 113 games. Every other player listed has played 92 or fewer games.

Most players also had similar production output as well. The only outlier here is Koivunen, who scored just two goals in 47 games. Buium scored six goals and 26 points, although he is a defenceman. Bowman only scored eight goals, but had 26 points in 54 games. Every other player had between 11 and 20 goals and 27 and 56 points, with Evangelista again being the outlier here.

One young player who hasn’t signed an extension despite being eligible for one is Edmonton Oilers forward Matthew Savoie. Selected ninth overall in 2022 by the Buffalo Sabres, Savoie was traded to the Oilers during the 2024 off-season. After a season mainly spent in the American Hockey League, Savoie became a full-time NHLer last season.

Savoie had a slow start to his 2025-26 season, scoring just two goals and five points over his first 23 games. He played slightly better over his next 33 games, scoring seven goals and 13 points leading into the Olympic break. Over his first 56 games in 2025-26, Savoie scored nine goals and 18 points.

Savoie was a totally different player when NHL play resumed. Moving up to the top six to play alongside Connor McDavid, Savoie scored nine goals and 19 points over his final 26 games, giving him 18 goals and 37 points in 82 games last season. Only Evangelista, who was playing his fourth season in the NHL, and Leonard, another top-10 pick, finished with more points.

Not all eight of the players signing extensions will reach their potential like the team hopes. Locking up young talent, especially those who haven’t really proven it, runs some risk, and Savoie is in the same boat.

He had a terrific end to his 2025-26 season once he regularly played with McDavid, but is that sustainable over the course of a full season, or a long-term deal that lasts six or seven years? Before the Olympic break, Savoie was on pace for just 13 goals and 26 points — a solid rookie campaign, but worthy of a long-term contract? Probably not.

The building blocks are there to be a staple in the Oilers’ top six for years to come, but a little bit more has to be shown before they sign him to a long-term deal. That runs its own risks, as he could command more if he has a good season, or elect to sign a shorter-term deal to reach free agency sooner.

But there are just too many question marks regarding his 2025-26 season to commit at this point. Will he bounce back from his off-season injury? Who will he play with to begin his season, and will he find the same production? These questions must be answered before a decision is made regarding a long-term extension.

That said, a decision will need to be made. In the same off-season that the Oilers acquired Savoie, they lost Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to offer sheets, removing two young pieces from a championship window. While neither player lived up to where they were selected (14th and ninth, respectively) in their Oilers tenure, they’ve broken out since joining the St. Louis Blues.

Following the 2026-27 season, if Savoie remains unsigned, he’ll be offer-sheet eligible come July 1, 2027. After losing two important members for the Oilers’ contention window back in 2024, they just can’t afford to lose Savoie and his potential.

If Savoie gets off to a good start to his season once returning from injury, or has a similar type of season as last, signing him to a contract is a must. Whether that be a long-term contract is anyone’s best guess, but it’s one of the biggest question marks surrounding this team entering the 2026-27 season.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFOEdmonton, DFOCalgary, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on X at @Ryley__Delaney.

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