Matt Savoie needs to play hockey, but the Edmonton Oilers aren’t letting him do so, healthy scratching him for a second straight game as they take on the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday night.

The rookie winger made his Oilers debut a week ago Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers, scoring his first point with the team, an assist, setting up Leon Draisaitl with a beautiful no-look pass. His work to earn that point was even more impressive than the pass, going in hard on the forecheck and boxing out defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen, who has five inches and more than a few pounds on the 5’9 Savoie.

He would dress for the following two games against the Washington Capitals, where he was quiet, and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, where he made some noise. He generated a few scoring chances and made some sharp defensive plays, continuing to show off what makes him an exciting prospect.

But like so many prospects over the last number of years, the Oilers are continuing to show an inability to develop them properly. It’s well documented how the team mishandled both Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg as the pro level before losing them to the St. Louis Blues by way of offer sheet, and the team is now doing the same with Savoie.

The answer to this is simple: just play the kid. Sitting him in the press box isn’t doing him any good.

Sure, the Oilers are on their longest losing streak in three years, but good things were happening with him on the ice. Why not let him get his feet wet against some tougher competition?

And if the team doesn’t want to play him at the NHL level yet, fine — send him back to Bakersfield. He missed a game Wednesday with the Condors and could’ve played tonight for them, too.

Instead, the Oilers will roll with the same line combinations as they did Thursday against the Florida Panthers.

“I think it’s not necessarily the lines right now or the personnel, it’s just getting the most out of everyone, everyone stepping up their game a little bit,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch ahead of Saturday’s game. “I thought our compete level was a bit better, execution was a bit better. This road trip hasn’t gone nearly as well as it should have. We’re not playing to our level.”

Savoie’s next chance of getting back into the lineup won’t come until Tuesday, when the Oilers return home to face the Anaheim Ducks, and Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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