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Prospect Info: C/RW Matthew Savoie, 9th Overall, 2022 NHL Draft - Traded to Moose Jaw 1/4/24

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theathletic.com

Scott Wheeler's top 50 drafted NHL prospects ranking, 2023 edition

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler ranks the league's top 50 drafted skaters, made up of 35 forwards and 15 defensemen.
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10. Matt Savoie, C/RW, 18 (Buffalo Sabres — No. 9, 2022)
July 2022 rank: No. 9 (change: -1)

Savoie’s game has the potential to thrill. He’s got extremely quick side-to-side hands that help him beat defenders one-on-one off of cuts. He’s got an NHL shot (which he can place with pinpoint accuracy from a bad angle and rip by a goalie clean from a distance, but he also loves to change up and slide five-hole). He does an excellent job creating plays to the slot out of traffic. He’s a burning skater with explosiveness and quick three-step acceleration that allows him to win races, separate in transition, and put defenders onto their heels, or dash through holes in coverage to the net (or draw a penalty). He’s a soft small-area passer who blends deception into his movements.

And then on top of those things, he’s got a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He’s always engaged, he keeps his feet moving, he plays with a ton of energy, and he finishes all of his checks and knocks his fair share of players over despite being on the smaller side. He’s also sturdier on his feet than his listed height (5-foot-9) might suggest, which helps him play between checks.

He hasn’t exploded offensively like some (myself included) maybe expected this season with the Ice, but some of that has to do with how balanced their team is up front (if they aren’t the Memorial Cup favorites, they’re close). I still see a dynamic, high-tempo, top-six, goal-creating package. He’s an exciting talent, with clear PP1 upside due to his shooting/skill package and clear five-on-five upside because of his skating and motor. Even in games where the points don’t fall, he’s almost always dangerous and threatening on the ice — and he’s seldom going to leave you wanting more. Because of the way he plays, I think he’s got a chance to stick at his natural center position in the NHL, too. His speed might even make him a useful penalty killer to give him all-situations value as well. I expect him to rise to the occasion on a deep playoff run and I’m looking forward to watching him as a big part of Team Canada at the 2024 world juniors in Gothenburg.
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Nice to see Wheeler isn’t as down on him as some are.
 
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Chainshot said:
The goal -



He just set up Zloty to make it 3-2 Ice.

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Do you think Savoie's injury hampered him at the beginning of the season? He seems to be playing better now.

The other point is Winnipeg has a lot of big names. Whats his ice time like?
 
toddkaz said:
Do you think Savoie's injury hampered him at the beginning of the season? He seems to be playing better now.

The other point is Winnipeg has a lot of big names. Whats his ice time like?
Click to expand...
I don't think the WHL tracks ice time, at least not that I've been able to find with any sort of accuracy.

He leads the team in faceoffs taken, and averages 20 per game which is also the highest on the team. The next closest is Geekie who averages 16 per game and then Ostapchuk who averages 14.

What I find interesting is his powerplay production is down considerably over last year. He had 34 powerplay points last season in 65 games, vs 13 so far this season in 45. He's 6th on the team in powerplay points, but he's 2nd on the team in shorthanded and even strength points (Benson is 1st in both). That was kind of a knock on him last season where 38% of his scoring was on the powerplay, but this season it only accounts for 21%.

Just from his stats it seems like he is being given a fair bit more defensive responsibilities than he was last year. Not sure how that translates to his ice time, but given his face-off numbers and production on the PP and PK it seems like maybe he's getting less PP time but more Even Strength and PK time.
 
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WhereAreTheCookies said:
I don't think the WHL tracks ice time, at least not that I've been able to find with any sort of accuracy.

He leads the team in faceoffs taken, and averages 20 per game which is also the highest on the team. The next closest is Geekie who averages 16 per game and then Ostapchuk who averages 14.

What I find interesting is his powerplay production is down considerably over last year. He had 34 powerplay points last season in 65 games, vs 13 so far this season in 45. He's 6th on the team in powerplay points, but he's 2nd on the team in shorthanded and even strength points (Benson is 1st in both). That was kind of a knock on him last season where 38% of his scoring was on the powerplay, but this season it only accounts for 21%.

Just from his stats it seems like he is being given a fair bit more defensive responsibilities than he was last year. Not sure how that translates to his ice time, but given his face-off numbers and production on the PP and PK it seems like maybe he's getting less PP time but more Even Strength and PK time.
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In my biased selection of games watched the last 45 days...PP2 (non-Savoie one) scores a lot.
 
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WhereAreTheCookies said:
I don't think the WHL tracks ice time, at least not that I've been able to find with any sort of accuracy.

He leads the team in faceoffs taken, and averages 20 per game which is also the highest on the team. The next closest is Geekie who averages 16 per game and then Ostapchuk who averages 14.

What I find interesting is his powerplay production is down considerably over last year. He had 34 powerplay points last season in 65 games, vs 13 so far this season in 45. He's 6th on the team in powerplay points, but he's 2nd on the team in shorthanded and even strength points (Benson is 1st in both). That was kind of a knock on him last season where 38% of his scoring was on the powerplay, but this season it only accounts for 21%.

Just from his stats it seems like he is being given a fair bit more defensive responsibilities than he was last year. Not sure how that translates to his ice time, but given his face-off numbers and production on the PP and PK it seems like maybe he's getting less PP time but more Even Strength and PK time.
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Thanks for getting this information. This sounds very beneficial in his development, because we have so many good options for the power play that he may have to find his ice time at least initially in other situations.
 
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toddkaz said:
Do you think Savoie's injury hampered him at the beginning of the season? He seems to be playing better now.

The other point is Winnipeg has a lot of big names. Whats his ice time like?
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Yes, I do (mentioned it above but this thread is fairly deep now).

The Ice are extremely deep. They have two "top lines" (Savoie's and Geekie's) and a third with the arrival of Ostapchuk that is like the top line on some less impressive teams. They roll four and there is rarely need to lean exclusively on one trio for needed offense. They tend to collectively steamroll teams and then can ride out the rest with balanced ice time.

As @WhereAreTheCookies mentioned, his scoring has shifted. He and Benson are the Ice top PK duo. The PP units are fairly even and since the other unit is just as good, they tend to convert often enough that it reduces the opportunity for Savoie's group.
 
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Ace said:
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He hasn't even gotten to Sabres fandom's biggest fetish... his ability at the faceoff dot.




Not that WHL faceoff ability necessarily translates and there is the whole part about how individual impacts are more important than overall percentages, ie. a "good" faceoff person still only has a very small statistical measure over anyone else and there is evidence starting with or without the puck doesn't necessarily matter much on a macro level. But anyway....
 
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The thing that stood out to me at rookie camp was how hard he went to the puck and got it. Smarts to anticipate where it’s going, effort to be where he has to be, fearlessness to go where he has to go…and the fight to win.

Its not exactly like Kulich who is more of a bull stampeding the puck carrier to force a decision…and it’s not exactly like Rosen who‘s brain is way ahead of the play and is already waiting where he thinks the puck will end up. It’s kind of the best parts of both.
 
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