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

[Chainshot]

 

[truthbluth]

On the one hand, you are supposed to dominate as a D+2 top 10 pick. On the other, I can't remember the last Sabres draft pick to be this good at the CHL level at any point. It is enjoyable.

 

[Chainshot]

On the one hand, you are supposed to dominate as a D+2 top 10 pick. On the other, I can't remember the last Sabres draft pick to be this good at the CHL level at any point. It is enjoyable.

Yeah, having a points/game over 2 in the WHL is pretty rocking even though there are a few guys who have crapped out after doing so. He's certainly getting it done in all situations and with MJ, he's doing it while back at center. It took a bit but it looks like he, Calvert and Lakovic have finally started to mesh.

 

[Ace]

We already knew he had the skill and drive. The good thing we learned is that he has the make-up and attitude to keep working hard when the system doesn’t work for you. Prove you can play in the AHL…get 4 minutes from your bum NHL coach…get sent back to jr because you were born a few hours earlier than the cutoff and the WHL won’t give you a break on Covid or playing a lot early (without exceptional status they refused to give him) like the OHL did for Wright.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

On the one hand, you are supposed to dominate as a D+2 top 10 pick. On the other, I can't remember the last Sabres draft pick to be this good at the CHL level at any point. It is enjoyable.

Hagel and Reinhart were close; Reinhart younger in a lower score era.

Otherwise it’s all the way back to Pominville.

 

[Chainshot]

Hagel and Reinhart were close; Reinhart younger in a lower score era.

Otherwise it’s all the way back to Pominville.

Hagel's D+2 was not good. His +3 was very good.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Hagel's D+2 was not good. His +3 was very good.

His D+2 season seemed to have been a contributing factor in not signing him

 

[Chainshot]

His D+2 season seemed to have been a contributing factor in not signing him

Very much so.

 

[Gabrielor]

This is my favorite not-in-the-NHL prospect (excluding Levi, because spooky goalie magic)

The speed, the grit, the shot, the instant chemistry with Benson.

I'll trade Kulich before I trade Savoie. He's the one guy I hope is a Sabre of the 21-22 1st round forward pile.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

I think he's going to make the team out of camp.

 

[Chainshot]

I think he's going to make the team out of camp.

I thought that this year right up to him getting hurt. *shrug*

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

I thought that this year right up to him getting hurt. *shrug*

Yep, same.

 

[Ace]

Before his injury I would have bet that he was the guy Adams thought would take the spot Benson won.

If there is a plan to push speed speed and speed…he is a more valuable piece than some people like to rank him as currently.

 

[Chainshot]

WHL goal #100 for his career and second of the night, this time on the PP. What a rocket.

Edit - also his 250th career WHL point.

 

[Ace]

He is a hatrick next game away from being a goal per game player this season

 

[Chainshot]

Third point of the night on a 2-on-1 with Calvert that winds up as a goal for Lakovic.

 

[toddkaz]

Savoie has an 11 game point streak. 2 goals and an assist tonight. He is up to 59 points in 29 WHL games.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Kid is too good for juniors.

 

[BG82]

Kid is too good for juniors.

Nothing really left to prove in Juniors. Should have a spot in our top 9 next season

 

[Willgamesh]

Prayers for Matty staying healthy, think he can help the team a lot.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Chainshot]

EP Rinkside article -

WHL Stock Watch: Matthew Savoie thriving with Moose Jaw Warriors

March's WHL Stock Watch highlights the play of Matthew Savoie, Tyson Jugnauth, Emitt Finnie, Atley Calvert, Jakub Dvořák, and Vojtech Port.

eprinkside.com

The Moose Jaw Warriors just swept their six-game U.S. Division trip, punctuated with a 4-3 victory over the Portland Winterhawks, the No. 5-rank team in the CHL.

In those games, Matthew Savoie was Moose Jaw's engine up front, which has been the story since he joined the team in January. He's racked up 32 points in 17 games with the Warriors, going pointless just once. And just two of his points are secondary assists.

With both Wenatchee and Moose Jaw, Savoie has upped his game. It's not just the increase in 5-on-5 entries or shots, but the quality of the ways he's creating. He's attacking the middle more than last season, both off the rush and from the cycle. His defensive stick work looks among the WHL's elite now. He gets his stick on just about pass and shot near him, and instantly turns those plays into offence.

Savoie's the WHL's leading primary point per game scorer in both all-situations (1.79) and even-strength (1.07). With improvements this season, he's awfully close to being NHL-ready.

 

[Chainshot]

Further to the EPRinkside article, he's not playing with Firkus and Yager. He plays with Calvert and Lakovic at 5-on-5 and then Firkus, Yager, Calvert, and Mateychuk are with him on PP1 with him playing a low slot or low hub/flanker spot. His stick work defensively has elevated. Calvert's a nice overager but that line tips things for the Warriors regularly now and that isn't the same as playing with Benson and McClennon like last year. Benson's obviously a great talent and McClennon is sort of analog to Calvert (though I would say Calvert is the better player of those two, more complete instead of standing around waiting for Zach and Matty to get him the puck in shooting position).

This hasn't been a waste and he's not over being at this level. He's added to his game in a way that I don't know if he could have playing up a tier or even up two. Repetition of great details is foundational.

 

[HOOats]

Further to the EPRinkside article, he's not playing with Firkus and Yager. He plays with Calvert and Lakovic at 5-on-5 and then Firkus, Yager, Calvert, and Mateychuk are with him on PP1 with him playing a low slot or low hub/flanker spot. His stick work defensively has elevated. Calvert's a nice overager but that line tips things for the Warriors regularly now and that isn't the same as playing with Benson and McClennon like last year. Benson's obviously a great talent and McClennon is sort of analog to Calvert (though I would say Calvert is the better player of those two, more complete instead of standing around waiting for Zach and Matty to get him the puck in shooting position).

This hasn't been a waste and he's not over being at this level. He's added to his game in a way that I don't know if he could have playing up a tier or even up two. Repetition of great details is foundational.

This is all good to hear. Adams may well be thinking of Savoie more than fans are to partially fill the void left by Mitts. Not that he'll be thrown in at center, but on any line he can chip in a lot of the same puck pursuit, stick detail, and small area passing we lost. He'll also boost team skating/speed, along with Byram, which seems like a foundational trait Adams is building around.

He was on track to be in the mix this year before the injury, so this more mature version definitely will be again this summer.