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

[Fjordy]

Certainly not to move up a few spots in the draft. However, in a proper hockey trade to improve one of the holes in our NHL roster with term? No issue parting with him whatsoever. If we were at the start of a rebuild and had lots of open positions? Maybe you keep him. Right now he is a smallish luxury pick that can help the Sabres in a trade far sooner than he will in the lineup.

You will not find such a deal, and I will not trade Savoie for goalie or forward. Columbus does not sell Jiricek. So we're not trading Savoie, Adams seems to have already made that clear.

 

[Zman5778]

I for one have no interest in building a team out of smallish players. One or two with the right linemates can be alright, but in general I will always shade toward the bigger guys.

You realize that the Sabres have ONE regular in the lineup that's under 6 foot right now, right? (two if you count Tyson Jost)

It's not like we're building a team of midgets over here.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

What you people even argue about? One inch, two inch

 

[Faceboner]

What you people even argue about? One inch, two inch

Hey those inches matter at least that's what my ex said

 

[Genny Screamer]

Hey those inches matter at least that's what my ex said

Fitting response from a guy named Faceboner…lol

 

[Bendium]

You're making a rather large assumption that a 19 year old isn't going to grown an inch or two...........

It does happen but is not that common. Certainly not common enough to hope on it. There are actually imaging tests of bone structure that can tell them whether or not it can even still happen.

 

[Bendium]

You will not find such a deal, and I will not trade Savoie for goalie or forward. Columbus does not sell Jiricek. So we're not trading Savoie, Adams seems to have already made that clear.

We will focus on the middle ground and find a defenseman then.

Even if KA has made it clear, it doesn't change my willingness to keep him on the table.

 

[Bendium]

You realize that the Sabres have ONE regular in the lineup that's under 6 foot right now, right? (two if you count Tyson Jost)

It's not like we're building a team of midgets over here.

Whats coming, is Kulich, Ostlund, Kisakov, Savoie, and Rosen. All are below average size. Thats my concern.

The part of our lineup that got caved this past year were mostly smaller players that made up the bottom half of our defensive corps and forwards like, Jost, Krebs, Olofsson. Even Quinn and JJP are slightly undersized.

Vegas has the largest defensive group in the NHL....how are they doing?

I am just saying the prospect trend right now is leading us down a path of getting alot smaller in our bottom nine. I don't think that is wise.

 

[Gras]

Whats coming, is Kulich, Ostlund, Kisakov, Savoie, and Rosen. All are below average size. Thats my concern.

The part of our lineup that got caved this past year were mostly smaller players that made up the bottom half of our defensive corps and forwards like, Jost, Krebs, Olofsson. Even Quinn and JJP are slightly undersized.

Vegas has the largest defensive group in the NHL....how are they doing?

I am just saying the prospect trend right now is leading us down a path of getting alot smaller in our bottom nine. I don't think that is wise.

So we need to go back to GMTMs plan

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

So we need to go back to GMTMs plan

Big and smart, I think he said.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Whats coming, is Kulich, Ostlund, Kisakov, Savoie, and Rosen. All are below average size. Thats my concern.

The part of our lineup that got caved this past year were mostly smaller players that made up the bottom half of our defensive corps and forwards like, Jost, Krebs, Olofsson. Even Quinn and JJP are slightly undersized.

Vegas has the largest defensive group in the NHL....how are they doing?

I am just saying the prospect trend right now is leading us down a path of getting alot smaller in our bottom nine. I don't think that is wise.

The majority of our lineup are kids. They haven’t developed man strength yet. I’m a small guy (5’7, 140 pounds), and today at work I lifted double of my coworker, who is 6’0 and 190. He’s still a kid, even though in theory he should lift more than me. And this is while I have a back injury.

 

[TageGod]

Using the greatest outlier as an example of the norm is a poor argument I think. There are not a ton of 5'7" players in the league for a reason. Can one make it here and there? Sure, but lets not act like its the norm.

I for one have no interest in building a team out of smallish players. One or two with the right linemates can be alright, but in general I will always shade toward the bigger guys.

If cole can make it on his speed and skill, Savoie can make it he is bigger and just as skilled if not more.

 

[Faceboner]

If cole can make it on his speed and skill, Savoie can make it he is bigger and just as skilled if not more.

And a much better skater

 

[Chainshot]

It's not unheard of for a small player to succeed in the NHL - hell, a 5'9" guy just won the Conn Smythe - but they do need to be surrounded by size. Thankfully, Buffalo does have some giants in their front ranks, though it would be great to acquire some more. Sprinkling in high-octane waterbugs around the joten should be workable as long as they don't become too geared toward being small. Savoie looks like he'll fit the mold as a small player who goes into hard areas to score pro-style goals. And he plays with pace and speed and defensive responsibility. He should be fine when he arrives.

 

[Fjordy]

We're not a small attack (Tage, Tuch, Cozens, Mitts, Greenway, Okposo), and players who are about the same height as Savoie are doing well in the NHL. He has a high IQ and is a tough guy.

Garland
Point
Caufield
Marchessault
Mangiapane
Marchand
Gaudreau
Konecny
Fiala
Trocheck
DeBrincat
Granlund
Schwartz
Gourde
Jarvis
Keller
Bratt
Kane

 

[Ace]

I swear we could ice 17 guys that are 6’3 or bigger and one Savoie and I’d see talk that we’re too small.

 

[Gabrielor]

I swear we could ice 17 guys that are 6’3 or bigger and one Savoie and I’d see talk that we’re too small.

Sabres are a single 6'2" dman over 200 pounds away from matching the champs.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Hey those inches matter at least that's what my ex said

She told me that too. Joke

 

[Dirty Dog]

I think you're potentially barking up the wrong developmental tree here. From the ages of 18-23, I went from 5' 8" to 6' and 140 to 170 pounds. It's all in his genes and we have no idea how that's going to play out. Perhaps this is his topped-out height and weight, but when you're only 19, there is the possibility he hasn't finished growing. Also, his size has very little to do with the type of prospect he is. I'm not going to drag down his season because in the first half, he was coming off of a major shoulder injury, and then he tuned it up in the second half/playoffs once that healed. Seems like a high-end prospect you'd like to see all the way through his development, no?

I’m still adding weight! And I’m long past my teenage years

 

[Matt Ress]

It's not unheard of for a small player to succeed in the NHL - hell, a 5'9" guy just won the Conn Smythe - but they do need to be surrounded by size. Thankfully, Buffalo does have some giants in their front ranks, though it would be great to acquire some more. Sprinkling in high-octane waterbugs around the joten should be workable as long as they don't become too geared toward being small. Savoie looks like he'll fit the mold as a small player who goes into hard areas to score pro-style goals. And he plays with pace and speed and defensive responsibility. He should be fine when he arrives.

Most of the big forwards still play a speed game but I think that's by design and could change in the playoffs.

 

[Bendium]

If cole can make it on his speed and skill, Savoie can make it he is bigger and just as skilled if not more.

For clarity, I am not saying he can't make it. Nor am I saying I do not want him to make it. I am just saying that we can't count on it. Planning on it is probably an error. Its not common enough for a guy of his size to be the impactful player people want, to reasonably be penciling him into the Sabres lineup as an untouchable.

 

[TageGod]

For clarity, I am not saying he can't make it. Nor am I saying I do not want him to make it. I am just saying that we can't count on it. Planning on it is probably an error. Its not common enough for a guy of his size to be the impactful player people want, to reasonably be penciling him into the Sabres lineup as an untouchable.

That is true for every prospect no matter the size. Size does not impact his potential yet. He should fit into sabres agressive offensive playstyle and he loves to go to the net, which we need. He is untouchable right now. Draft Develop and pay their own. That is KA. That will apply even more so to their top pick every year.

 

[Bendium]

The majority of our lineup are kids. They haven’t developed man strength yet. I’m a small guy (5’7, 140 pounds), and today at work I lifted double of my coworker, who is 6’0 and 190. He’s still a kid, even though in theory he should lift more than me. And this is while I have a back injury.

100% with you, which is why I have been against the speed at which the Sabres have elevated some prospects into the NHL.

I too am 5'7" and played high level sports thru high school, the military, college, and then city leagues until I couldn't anymore. I would love Savoie to make it, because I was that guy. I was 5'7" and 180-185 lbs from the time I was 16 till I was about 28. I always surprised people and outplayed my size, because while I was shorter than most on the field, I was built like 6'2" 210 lb guy, just with shortened bones.

Now, I can tell you without any question, that my 25-28 year old body would have completely dominated my 18-20 year old body. I was stronger, tougher, more balanced, more grizzled, and the interaction between my brain and body made me quicker.

18-20 year olds are still in teenagers brains and bodies. They need to stay in an environment where their bodies are not being overmatched, so they can have more success, build confidence, and grow up mentally as well. People can always point out exceptions and outliers, but that's all they are.

 

[TageGod]

100% with you, which is why I have been against the speed at which the Sabres have elevated some prospects into the NHL.

I too am 5'7" and played high level sports thru high school, the military, college, and then city leagues until I couldn't anymore. I would love Savoie to make it, because I was that guy. I was 5'7" and 180-185 lbs from the time I was 16 till I was about 28. I always surprised people and outplayed my size, because while I was shorter than most on the field, I was built like 6'2" 210 lb guy, just with shortened bones.

Now, I can tell you without any question, that my 25-28 year old body would have completely dominated my 18-20 year old body. I was stronger, tougher, more balanced, more grizzled, and the interaction between my brain and body made me quicker.

18-20 year olds are still in teenagers brains and bodies. They need to stay in an environment where their bodies are not being overmatched, so they can have more success, build confidence, and grow up mentally as well. People can always point out exceptions and outliers, but that's all they are.

Remeber watching Gerbe somehow throwing his weight around like he was way bigger? Short with a bulky build is incredibly effective.

 

[Bendium]

View attachment 717893

Sabres are a single 6'2" dman over 200 pounds away from matching the champs.

Exactly, and I love it. Now I want to see them add another top 4 with size and term, and another bottom pairing Dman with size and PK ability. I was against Bryson and Joker last offseason, and at this point I never want to see either in another Sabres game again. Get me some more size and physicality in the bottom six while you're at it.