While the points haven't started flowing for Matt Savoie, the young Edmonton Oilers forward is clearly earning the trust of his coach and a prominent spot in the lineup. Playing alongside Connor McDavid, Savoie's value is being measured beyond the scoresheet.
Earning His Minutes, Not Receiving Gifts
Head coach Kris Knoblauch made it clear that a spot on a line with the league's best player is not a handout. Savoie's placement beside Connor McDavid is a testament to his play, not his pedigree as a former first-round pick or a homegrown talent. The coach emphasized that if McDavid himself didn't approve of the partnership, it wouldn't be happening.
Through 26 games this season, Savoie has managed just seven points, a modest output for a player who dominated the Western Hockey League with 232 points in 150 games. However, Knoblauch is far from concerned about the offensive production at this early stage.
The 200-Foot Game That's Opening Doors
The statistics that matter most to the Oilers' bench boss are found in the ice-time log. Savoie has played the seventh-most minutes among Edmonton forwards, logging over 367 total minutes, including nearly 42 minutes on the penalty kill. He averages 14:08 per game and has dressed for every contest.
"Ice-time is a good indicator of what the coach is saying and thinking," Knoblauch stated on Tuesday. "He's played top-six minutes because he's able to retrieve pucks and that's important. He hasn't been putting up points yet but you want a good 200-foot game and he's doing that."
Knoblauch compared Savoie's tenacious style to Vasily Podkolzin on the second line and suggested he might be an even quicker version of former Oiler Kailer Yamamoto.
Confidence in Future Production
Both the coach and the player express unwavering confidence that the offence will follow. Knoblauch dismissed the idea of promoting or demoting Savoie based solely on point totals, stating plainly, "Points? I'm not concerned."
Savoie, for his part, acknowledges the challenge of scoring at the NHL level but remains self-assured. "I've produced my whole life though. I'm not concerned," said the 21-year-old. "I know there's another level of offence I can unlock."
The key for Savoie's continued development is comfort and experience. "He can make plays. The more experience he gets, the more comfortable he becomes," Knoblauch noted, signaling that the organization is prepared to be patient with its promising forward as he adapts to the NHL's rigours while contributing in crucial, less glamorous ways.