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

[Chainshot]

I don't think he has anything to worry about re: intimidating road crowds from that building full of seats with towels draped on them

Those towels can be angry though: dry humor, snappy comebacks.

 

[RefsIdeas]

I have zero doubt Savoie will come in and make an impact on the Amerks. I also have zero doubt if/when he makes the Sabres, he will make an impact. I have this lingering concern about his ability to take his game to another level though. I think his floor is Seth Jarvis, but I’m not sure I see the Brayden Point upside quite yet. Totally willing and hope to be wrong though!

 

[HOOats]

Those towels can be angry though: dry humor, snappy comebacks.

Lol. White towels on brown seats, what are they hiding...

Jokes aside though, this is a cool milestone tonight. Savoie skating in his first pro game, joining the guys who should be his Sabres brothers for the next decade.

 

[Diaspora]

Those towels can be angry though: dry humor, snappy comebacks.

 

[Chainshot]

View attachment 712588

It's also National Towel Day. Rest in peace Douglas Adams.

 

[oldgoalie]

It's also National Towel Day. Rest in peace Douglas Adams.

42.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Dubi Doo]

It has to be quite the adjustment for him to go from juniors to the conference finals in the AHL against a stellar defensive team. He's playing against grown men who are playing stingy and tight defensively.

This should be a good learning experience for him. His speed pops, but he'll have to learn to put a bit more muscle on those dump-ins because a few of them were gobbled up by the defenseman before it got deep. Also, he'll need to learn to play a gritty, hardworking game down low and in front of the net.

Everything I've read says his motor doesn't stop, so that should expedite the process but, as I said, going up against a top-tier defensive team is going to be a tough transition even if it is the minors. Hopefully he finds a groove because he's going to be fun to watch if he figures it out quickly enough.

 

[TageGod]

he'll need to learn to play a gritty, hardworking game down low and in front of the net.

He already does that.

 

[Chainshot]

Beardless he looks about 10 years younger.

 

[Bendium]

I was very curious to see how he did a level up. So many people high on him, I let myself hope that there was more there than I had seen so far. He did have a very good second half and playoff run in the CHL.

That said, he looked and played VERY small in his two games. He looked overmatched physically and not ready for it. There is definitely skill there, but I saw nothing close to something we should be looking to put in the NHL next season. They either need to go after the CHL waiver due to covid and get him into the AHL, or send him back for his last year in Juniors. If they had Savoie penciled into the NHL club, they need to erase that and plan accordingly.

 

[Fjordy]

I was very curious to see how he did a level up. So many people high on him, I let myself hope that there was more there than I had seen so far. He did have a very good second half and playoff run in the CHL.

That said, he looked and played VERY small in his two games. He looked overmatched physically and not ready for it. There is definitely skill there, but I saw nothing close to something we should be looking to put in the NHL next season. They either need to go after the CHL waiver due to covid and get him into the AHL, or send him back for his last year in Juniors. If they had Savoie penciled into the NHL club, they need to erase that and plan accordingly.

Maybe we'll see how he performs in camp and a few NHL games next season first. He has some very interesting tools that Buffalo could use next season, but if he's not ready, I'm sure they'll find a way.

 

[truthbluth]

I was very curious to see how he did a level up. So many people high on him, I let myself hope that there was more there than I had seen so far. He did have a very good second half and playoff run in the CHL.

That said, he looked and played VERY small in his two games. He looked overmatched physically and not ready for it. There is definitely skill there, but I saw nothing close to something we should be looking to put in the NHL next season. They either need to go after the CHL waiver due to covid and get him into the AHL, or send him back for his last year in Juniors. If they had Savoie penciled into the NHL club, they need to erase that and plan accordingly.

Bruh. He played 2 games. He couldn’t even play in preseason last year. You might be right, but you are definitely jumping the gun.

 

[TageGod]

In what I saw he looked like a rocket... that didn't really know where to aim. Hustled to everything but was late on a lot, which is expected moving up a league. I saw him go flying to the net to get in front and got BURIED. The willingness to is a +.

 

[Bendium]

In what I saw he looked like a rocket... that didn't really know where to aim. Hustled to everything but was late on a lot, which is expected moving up a league. I saw him go flying to the net to get in front and got BURIED. The willingness to is a +.

Agreed. So we just need to develop him through a reasonable process at a level he can grow and succeed at without getting trucked. The Sabres really need to go all out trying to get that waiver.

 

[Chainshot]

In what I saw he looked like a rocket... that didn't really know where to aim. Hustled to everything but was late on a lot, which is expected moving up a league. I saw him go flying to the net to get in front and got BURIED. The willingness to is a +.

Agreed, he plays in traffic already and with pace and without fear.

It's not like Hershey's defense didn't do the same things to him that they did to the substantially bigger and more developed guys like Mersch, Murray and even Malone. They gave away nothing at the net front.

In terms of effectiveness, them injecting Savoie put too much small all on one line. Kulich and Rosen got almost nothing done on that line with him in his 2nd game in the lineup. And the long stretch they got hemmed in had a lot to do with he and Kulich doubling one another positionally. Given how he'd come in on two practices, that's understandable. Granted, I still don't see Kulich at center as a pro and that's part of why - he has way further to grow his game in his own zone than Savoie has shown at their respective tiers.

 

[TageGod]

Tough situation and team to debut against. I pencil them both in at wing, but Savoie has an outside chance of being center. I just see VO 2.0 with Kulich (Not a liability outside goals).

 

[MOGlLNY]

Tough situation and team to debut against. I pencil them both in at wing, but Savoie has an outside chance of being center. I just see VO 2.0 with Kulich (Not a liability outside goals).

that's a pretty damn good player, to be fair.

 

[RefsIdeas]

I wish I liked Barlow more. I just have trouble believing in guys who physically developed quickly playing in juniors. Dude (and he is a dude) is out there on the verge of plucking gray hairs out of his full beard. He has a pro ready body right now…what am I supposed to do projecting his work in juniors?

*whispers* that’s what I’m asking about Savoie

 

[Ace]

*whispers* that’s what I’m asking about Savoie

You think Savoie is so much physically stronger against smaller players that you can’t project him against bigger men?

…

Fascinating.

 

[TageGod]

Savoie has the potential to be the best offensive player in that draft. This board is oddly finding reasons not to like him or to trade him it's baffling.

 

[RefsIdeas]

You think Savoie is so much physically stronger against smaller players that you can’t project him against bigger men?

…

Fascinating.

He’s still in a man’s body playing against kids. His trick is speed instead of strength. He’s 90% of what he’s going to be already, just like Barlow.

 

[Zman5778]

He’s still in a man’s body playing against kids. His trick is speed instead of strength. He’s 90% of what he’s going to be already, just like Barlow.

I'm not sure I could disagree with this any more. His body doesn't look like a man's body to me.....he's got plenty of room to grow physically.

 

[RefsIdeas]

I'm not sure I could disagree with this any more. His body doesn't look like a man's body to me.....he's got plenty of room to grow physically.

He’s 179 pounds at 5’9. Thats above average NHL weight for that height already. The heaviest player at 5’9 is 187.

 

[Ace]

I'm not sure I could disagree with this any more. His body doesn't look like a man's body to me.....he's got plenty of room to grow physically.

i don’t even know where to start.

Guy has a hate-on for Savoie that is really impressive.

I’d probably start with the fact that Savoie will still be a plus skater in the NHL while Barlow will no longer have a pronounced strength advantage. Or that he can add strength to his frame far easier than Barlow can add anything to his…. But it won’t matter. He’d trade Savoie for a 2nd this year.