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

[Yultron]

Gets traded?

Winnipeg trades him to a contender if they aren’t in the playoff race , the odds of this are slim to none with Benson and Geekie coming back but you just don’t know in this business

 

[Chainshot]

Do people feel Matthew Savoie will get the Shane Wright treatment if he doesn’t make the team but I think it’s a forgone conclusion he get a long look to potentially fill in for Quinn. (No Guarantee but I will be surprised if he doesn’t )

He will practise with the club for the first 2 months , dress for 8 games and then go play at the World Juniors then either gets traded or goes back to Winnipeg after the world juniors are over .

Winnipeg no longer has a team, they are in Wenatchee, Washington and now known as the Wild. I suspect he and Benson may be interesting trade moves at a WHL level since they sold most of their futures over the last year to build their record-setting team.

The "Wright" treatment wasn't by choice though, it wasn't really a plan it was happenstance where the Kraken were trying to salvage things as Shayne wasn't ready when they tried to play him. Savoie is further along IMO than Wright was when Wright opened last season. If he has had a successful summer training, which he missed out on last year, it seems like he'll have a solid shot in camp to be that Quinn replacement coming into the season.

 

[Yultron]

Winnipeg no longer has a team, they are in Wenatchee, Washington and now known as the Wild. I suspect he and Benson may be interesting trade moves at a WHL level since they sold most of their futures over the last year to build their record-setting team.

The "Wright" treatment wasn't by choice though, it wasn't really a plan it was happenstance where the Kraken were trying to salvage things as Shayne wasn't ready when they tried to play him. Savoie is further along IMO than Wright was when Wright opened last season. If he has had a successful summer training, which he missed out on last year, it seems like he'll have a solid shot in camp to be that Quinn replacement coming into the season.

I would love Savoie to make the team , He absolutely has a shot , It also wouldn’t be terrible if he didn’t either because Middlestadt can always play right wing but ideally I want Peterka Cozens and Savoie on the 2nd line with Middlestadt the 3rd line centre with Greenway and Oloffson as his wingers .

 

[Chainshot]

I would love Savoie to make the team , He absolutely has a shot , It also wouldn’t be terrible if he didn’t either because Middlestadt can always play right wing but ideally I want Peterka Cozens and Savoie on the 2nd line with Middlestadt the 3rd line centre with Greenway and Oloffson as his wingers .

I'm curious if the late-season line combo with Greenway with Cozens continues but with Peterka on RW. That spot could also be Savoie/Benson/Kulich/someone else, but having the defensive cover with Cozens helped when he was centering the injured Thompson.

 

[Jacob582]

Do people feel Matthew Savoie will get the Shane Wright treatment if he doesn’t make the team but I think it’s a forgone conclusion he get a long look to potentially fill in for Quinn. (No Guarantee but I will be surprised if he doesn’t )

He will practise with the club for the first 2 months , dress for 8 games and then go play at the World Juniors then either gets traded or goes back to Winnipeg after the world juniors are over .

I don't think Adams will embrace this as a developmental path.

 

[Dingo44]

Corey Pronman's NHL Pipeline Rankings: No. 3 Sabres have built a formidable system

Ranking the top prospects and under-23 players in the organization. Plus, what to expect of every player.

theathletic.com

8. Matt Savoie, C

1/1/2004 | 5-foot-9 | 179 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 9 in 2022
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Savoie had another excellent WHL season for Winnipeg, although he arguably didn’t take the step forward into a premier player in the league that some expected he would. Savoie is full of natural ability and work ethic. He buzzes around the ice due to his speed and compete, attacking loose pucks and taking them to the net. He is a very skilled playmaker who makes a ton of difficult plays at very fast speeds. The concern about Savoie is his smaller frame, and there is a minor question of whether he’s actually dynamic offensively or just very good. He’s been a strong two-way center in junior, but there is a question of whether he’s an NHL wing due to that frame as well. Regardless, I see him as a top-six forward in the NHL.

 

[TageGod]

Benson- 5'10 not a problem.
Savoie- 5'9 too small.

 

[start winnin]

Benson- 5'10 not a problem.
Savoie- 5'9 too small.

Same with Quinn and Peterka. Quinn has good size at 6'1 185 lbs 'to handle his own' but Peterka at 6'0 189 lbs 'isn't that big'.

There's too many inconsistencies with Pronman's rankings to take them seriously but at least they give us some content during the dry months.

 

[Yultron]

I am genuinely starting to think he goes back to the WHL this season .

I believe it’s going to be Middlestadt on that Second line Right Wing with Cozens and Peterka which I am genuinely ok with .

Unless Savoie comes in and absolutely destroys the NHL pre season and really forces Granato and Adam’s hand .

Then yeah he is back in the Wb and plays in the world juniors aswell which could do wonders for his development

 

[Snippit]

I am genuinely starting to think he goes back to the WHL this season .

I believe it’s going to be Middlestadt on that Second line Right Wing with Cozens and Peterka which I am genuinely ok with .

Unless Savoie comes in and absolutely destroys the NHL pre season and really forces Granato and Adam’s hand .

Then yeah he is back in the Wb and plays in the world juniors aswell which could do wonders for his development

And it's a good idea cap wise.

If Savoie and Kulich both slide, their ELC's will expire after Skinner's 9M contract ends.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Wouldn't Peterka play RW, and Mitts play LW if they're on the same line?

 

[Ace]

And it's a good idea cap wise.

If Savoie and Kulich both slide, their ELC's will expire after Skinner's 9M contract ends.

How many rookies can you break in at once? Benson is better than both…so you slow cook him when he doesn’t need it to avoid three? Rosen‘s ELC will start either way and he’d have two full AHL seasons in the books. You can say they’ll trade someone but they won’t. So we have four rookies ready to go…but at best split them a year apart so every year is a rookie adjustment and development year and we never have to actually go for it. Like last year. And…Like this year…only without the rookies.

 

[Yultron]

Wouldn't Peterka play RW, and Mitts play LW if they're on the same line?

Im just going off of Daily face off which is a site I rely on a lot that has good information and an article I read recently

 

[Jacob582]

Wouldn't Peterka play RW, and Mitts play LW if they're on the same line?

Yes, Peterka is a RW. I doubt they switch him until he firmly gets established with good production in the NHL.

 

[Fly Boy]

Edit

 

[Fly Boy]

Personally can't wait to see him soon.

 

[Matt Ress]

How many rookies can you break in at once? Benson is better than both…so you slow cook him when he doesn’t need it to avoid three? Rosen‘s ELC will start either way and he’d have two full AHL seasons in the books. You can say they’ll trade someone but they won’t. So we have four rookies ready to go…but at best split them a year apart so every year is a rookie adjustment and development year and we never have to actually go for it. Like last year. And…Like this year…only without the rookies.

I agree. 3 regulars last year was a bit much. I'm not sure who should have been held back though. But just having one or two in the lineup doesn't make it a development year. We haven't gotten to the prediction thread yet but I've said it before, this needs to be a playoff year. Nobody will believe the development year spin after last year unless there's some serious injuries. Even then, there's plenty of resources to fill most holes.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Every team in the league has at least one, and usually 2-3 rookies in the line-up at times. That doesn't make it a "developmental" season ONLY for those teams, and it won't for the Sabres either. This term has just been thrown out of context since KA/Granato used it last year. I mean, every player younger than around 26-27 has room to grow and get better, and most teams in the league are trying to "develop" into a better team. Developing and winning aren't mutually exclusive...except in the biased rants of some.

 

[TageGod]

How many rookies can you break in at once? Benson is better than both…so you slow cook him when he doesn’t need it to avoid three? Rosen‘s ELC will start either way and he’d have two full AHL seasons in the books. You can say they’ll trade someone but they won’t. So we have four rookies ready to go…but at best split them a year apart so every year is a rookie adjustment and development year and we never have to actually go for it. Like last year. And…Like this year…only without the rookies.

Benson is 18. There is no debate he is back to WHL. Savoie will be on the roster as far as he can take himself. I expect him to run with his opportunity. Chances are if he fails Rousek gets the nod. Rousek will also be first call up. Kulich will be AHL bound at least part of the season. You are looking at one full time rookie on the starting roster barring injuries.

For the record rookie players win cups. Every team always has rookies. They are not mutually exclusive. You can break in a rookie or two while still trying to win a cup.

 

[debaser66]

Benson is 18. There is no debate he is back to WHL. Savoie will be on the roster as far as he can take himself. I expect him to run with his opportunity. Chances are if he fails Rousek gets the nod. Rousek will also be first call up. Kulich will be AHL bound at least part of the season. You are looking at one full time rookie on the starting roster barring injuries.

For the record rookie players win cups. Every team always has rookies. They are not mutually exclusive. You can break in a rookie or two while still trying to win a cup.

Still have the feeling its Rousek, Kulich, Savoie.
In that order.
Rousek is the one with the lowest ceiling but best adapted to the pro game & in a defensive role for 3rd or 4th line duty.
Kulichs got the pro offense but lacks the D side.
Savoie isnt adapted to the pro game at all, and if he would be AHL eligble he should start there.
He has the highest ceiling of the 3 but given some surprises I just dont see why he should be ahead of Kulich or Rousek atm, unless he absolutely kills it in preseason.

 

[Fjordy]

Still have the feeling its Rousek, Kulich, Savoie.
In that order.
Rousek is the one with the lowest ceiling but best adapted to the pro game & in a defensive role for 3rd or 4th line duty.
Kulichs got the pro offense but lacks the D side.
Savoie isnt adapted to the pro game at all, and if he would be AHL eligble he should start there.
He has the highest ceiling of the 3 but given some surprises I just dont see why he should be ahead of Kulich or Rousek atm, unless he absolutely kills it in preseason.

He can't play in the AHL because of the rules, he will have a chance to show himself in camp and he has a good motor, he can win faceoffs and be competent on defense. I think he can be more useful in the squad than Kuliсh at the moment, because we don't have many forwards who can play defense and are good on the spot.

 

[debaser66]

He can't play in the AHL because of the rules, he will have a chance to show himself in camp and he has a good motor, he can win faceoffs and be competent on defense. I think he can be more useful in the squad than Kuliсh at the moment, because we don't have many forwards who can play defense and are good on the spot.

as I said its an unkown if he is already capable to do it at against grown man, especially faceoffs, I dont think he will start at center if he stays for the 10 games or longer.

 

[Matt Ress]

Still have the feeling its Rousek, Kulich, Savoie.
In that order.
Rousek is the one with the lowest ceiling but best adapted to the pro game & in a defensive role for 3rd or 4th line duty.
Kulichs got the pro offense but lacks the D side.
Savoie isnt adapted to the pro game at all, and if he would be AHL eligble he should start there.
He has the highest ceiling of the 3 but given some surprises I just dont see why he should be ahead of Kulich or Rousek atm, unless he absolutely kills it in preseason.

Kulich will surprise people with his defensive acumen. He's no cherry picker.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Kulich will surprise people with his defensive acumen. He's no cherry picker.

He seems pretty bad at it actually. Do you have any video of him winning puck battles in the D zone? Because I’m hearing it never happens.

We can’t bring in yet another player who can’t win puck battles or get pucks out of the D zone. Mitts, Tuch, and Quinn seem like the only guys who can do it who aren’t on the 4th line, and they are just average at it themselves.

 

[Matt Ress]

He seems pretty bad at it actually. Do you have any video of him winning puck battles in the D zone? Because I’m hearing it never happens.

We can’t bring in yet another player who can’t win puck battles or get pucks out of the D zone. Mitts, Tuch, and Quinn seem like the only guys who can do it who aren’t on the 4th line, and they are just average at it themselves.

However, it’s the defensive parts of Kulich’s game that are growing and turning him into an elite American Leaguer right now.



“His on the puck competitiveness has grown a ton. He stays on the puck more, he goes and hunts the puck,” continued Appert

So those things are really important, that versatility and it shows that his defensive game has grown a lot and that we trust him.”

KULICH'S DEFENSIVE GAME BECOMING JUST AS VALUABLE AS OFFENSIVE | Rochester Americans

www.amerks.com

Kulich’s defensive game is advanced for his age. He often stays as the third man high in the offensive zone, ensuring that he gets back to his own end quickly and helps out with back pressure against the rush. Kulich forces his man to the outside and away from the most dangerous scoring areas on the ice. He also works hard on the backcheck, supporting the defence down low and helping to cut off the cycle game. Kulich uses an active stick to cut down passing lanes and is willing to put his body on the line to block shots. He reads the play well, anticipating what opponents will do and creating turnovers. When he retrieves a loose puck, he moves it quickly to start the transition game. His work in the faceoff circle is also good for his age.

Jiri Kulich Scouting Report: 2022 NHL Draft #26

Jiri Kulich Scouting Report: Czechia forward Jiri Kulich had a coming-out party at the Under-18 Worlds, leading the tournament in goals.

lastwordonsports.com

Eh winning a one on one puck battle isn't the only way to play defense.

Feel free to move me mods as we're clearly off topic here