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How Matt Savoie is emerging into an impact player for the Oilers
Photo credit: © Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Since the Olympic break, Connor McDavid has produced at an excellent rate of 3.19 points per hour at five-on-five, which is no surprise for him. But in that same stretch, the Oilers have a second forward sitting just behind at a rate of 3.17, and it’s not Leon Draisaitl, who has been out to injury for about two weeks now.
The forward I’m talking about is Matt Savoie.
The St. Albert, Alta. native was drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Roughly two years later, the Edmonton Oilers would acquire him in a trade for forwards Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio in July 2024.
For essentially the entirety of the McDavid and Draisaitl era, the Oilers have immensely struggled to surround their two superstars with young talent in the long term. From 2016 and 2017 first‑round picks Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto failing to develop into bona fide top‑six wingers, to 2019 and 2020 first‑rounders Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg leaving after signing offer sheets, it has been a persistent issue for Edmonton to draft, develop, and retain its younger assets. The only real exception to this has been Evan Bouchard on the backend, while the lone supporting forwards who have remained with the team since 2021 – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman – are in their mid-30s.
However, recent months suggest that they may truly have something here with 22-year-old Matt Savoie.
Initially, Savoie had a rough start to 2025-26, his first full NHL season. He recorded just a single point through his first 11 games, and by the end of November, no Oiler forward was on ice for more (even-strength) scoring chances against per 60 minutes than Savoie. There were certainly flashes of talent, but the underlying results at both ends of the ice were, frankly, quite dreadful.
However, it would be an understatement to say that the numbers have shifted dramatically in the new year. From January onward, Savoie has seen a significant rise in his on‑ice goals-per-60 rate paired with a notable drop in his chances-allowed-per-60 rate. Production-wise, Savoie has been playing at a respectable 45-point pace, and that’s with very little meaningful time on the power-play.
Specifically, his performance has been even better since the Olympic Break. Over the past 16 games, Savoie has produced 13 points, 11 of them at five-on-five. His on-ice goal share is at an outstanding 61 per cent, supported by strong possession numbers with a 56 per cent expected goal share (xG%) and 57 per cent shot share (SF%) that indicate this is not just some PDO heater.
The graphic below nicely summarizes the stark difference in Savoie’s play in his first two months compared to his play since the break:
There are numerous reasons for Savoie’s massive improvement. One is obvious: he, like many rookies, initially struggled to keep pace with NHL speed and physicality. Not every player is going to be Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews out of the gate. With some time and experience, Savoie’s game has adjusted, as the difference in his confidence and decision-making is extremely noticeable compared to just a few months ago.
Savoie himself has also acknowledged the importance of the Olympic break in resetting his approach.
“In the first half of the year, there were stretches where I’d have a couple of good games, couple of bad games, get a bunch of looks and then go cold for a bit,” Savoie said. “But I feel like since the [Olympic] break, or the Christmas break, I feel I’ve been more consistent game by game and just playing a better all-around game.”
“I think coming off the Olympic break, the game really slowed down for me. I’m feeling more comfortable with the puck, my legs are feeling really good.”
Another major factor here is deployment. I have been quite critical of Kris Knoblauch’s constant line-shuffling this season, and I believe it has affected the play of several Oiler forwards, especially a young rookie like Savoie early on. Savoie has been constantly rotated throughout the lineup this season, to the point that in the first three months, there was not a single stretch where he spent four consecutive games with the same linemates. It undoubtedly impacted his ability to generate chemistry with his new teammates at the NHL level, and certainly contributed to his awful underlying numbers.
However, over the past few months, Knoblauch has more consistently trusted Savoie in the top six, and it has paid off. In about 193 minutes, Draisaitl boasts a fantastic 63 per cent goal share with Savoie on his wing, which drops by nearly 10 per cent without Savoie. In particular, the line of Draisaitl, Savoie and Vasily Podkolzin holds a brilliant 85 per cent goal share this season.
Most recently, Savoie has been skating on Connor McDavid’s wing, and ever since the beginning of the new year, the McDavid-Savoie duo has an excellent 64 per cent goal share and equally strong 62 per cent expected goal share.
Mar 26, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (2) celebrates with center Matt Savoie (22) and center Connor McDavid (97) after scoring a goal during an overtime period to give the Oilers a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
With Draisaitl out due to injury, it was Savoie who was trusted to play with McDavid in overtime during their matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night, ultimately being on the ice for Evan Bouchard’s OT winner. His speed, skill, and tenacity have allowed him to fit seamlessly alongside the Oilers’ captain.
“He’s playing well,” said McDavid of Savoie. “He’s doing a lot of really good things. He plays with a lot of energy, he’s got a great motor on him, he keeps pucks alive, and that’s all you can ask for.”
It should also be noted that we have only really discussed Savoie’s performance at even strength in this article; we haven’t even talked about his fantastic play on the penalty-kill!
In fact, Savoie leads all of Edmonton’s forwards in short-handed TOI on the season, with the coaching staff trusting him even more frequently than a veteran like Nugent-Hopkins. And, the results in those minutes have been strong, as despite the fact that Savoie is consistently deployed against top opposition power-play units, the Oilers see a decrease in both goals and high-danger chances against per 60 with Savoie on the ice during a penalty kill. For an NHL rookie, that’s extremely impressive.
“That’s why you can put him out there as an early 20-year-old kid on the penalty-kill and really trust him in any situation.”
As the playoffs approach, a long list of question marks linger for the Oilers, particularly as they possess a large group of veteran players who may be feeling the fatigue after two consecutive runs to the Stanley Cup Finals. That’s precisely what makes young Savoie’s recent emergence such a breath of fresh air. His combination of speed, talent, intelligence, and all-around ability could make him a real difference-maker in the post-season.
“Confidence is definitely high right now,”
said Savoie.
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