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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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Chainshot said:
Yes, because there is no correlation with why tiny players don't wind up in the league outside of some big meanies who won't let them play. I didn't say concussion - I said contact. There are not many guys who go inside and take the chance of even incidental contact to the face/head. If it isn't something that players develop habitually to avoid the abuse, we'd see more inside scorers than we do. Or are you that new that you haven't noticed that sub 5'10" guys are pretty rare and have to be amazingly talented?
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Sub 5'10 is such a simplistic definition of size. Wing span, lower body strength, where your length is located. These all matter. I'll give you at 5'4", a guy like Nathan Gerbe had so much to overcome. The guy lasted 400+ games because he was huge in other parts of his body. He was 175 pounds, and if you ever looked at his neck, he was a tiny bull.

My point is that 5'9" guys need to be broken down in a much more sophisticated way, as does 6'3". Oskari Laaksonen is proving to be mostly useless even at his height. He can't move anyone off the puck. Granted, you do other things well, and it can be overcome.

The NHL needs to evolve in thinking. It has for sure but even more.
 
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HogtownSabresfan said:
Sub 5'10 is such a simplistic definition of size. Wing span, lower body strength, where your length is located. These all matter. I'll give you at 5'4", a guy like Nathan Gerbe had so much to overcome. The guy lasted 400+ games because he was huge in other parts of his body. He was 175 pounds, and if you ever looked at his neck, he was a tiny bull.

My point is that 5'9" guys need to be broken down in a much more sophisticated way, as does 6'3". Oskari Laaksonen is proving to be mostly useless even at his height. He can't move anyone off the puck. Granted, you do other things well, and it can be overcome.

The NHL needs to evolve in thinking. It has for sure but even more.
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James Patrick - his junior coach - says Savoie will have no issues.

www.audacy.com

LISTEN: Patrick thinks Matthew Savoie can overcome size at NHL level

Matthew Savoie played for the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL before being drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Draft. His head coach, James Patrick, joined the “Howard and Jeremy Show” on Monday. Paul Hamilton has more:
www.audacy.com www.audacy.com
 
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Dingo44 said:
James Patrick - his junior coach - says Savoie will have no issues.

www.audacy.com

LISTEN: Patrick thinks Matthew Savoie can overcome size at NHL level

Matthew Savoie played for the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL before being drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Draft. His head coach, James Patrick, joined the “Howard and Jeremy Show” on Monday. Paul Hamilton has more:
www.audacy.com www.audacy.com
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I actually question whether there is anything to "overcome" at 5'9" depending on your overall mass and how it is distributed. The approach is not sophisticated.
 
HogtownSabresfan said:
I actually question whether there is anything to "overcome" at 5'9" depending on your overall mass and how it is distributed. The approach is not sophisticated.
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This quote from Patrick makes him sound a bit like Martin St. Louis:

“My gut feeling is this type of player has succeeded in the NHL, and guys his size can play center now," he said.

“He’s solid, he’s a thick body that’s strong, he has a real thick base and real strong legs. He’s totally fine battling around our net, so I believe he can play center.”
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Ace said:
We are going to look back at the Savoie pick as a big win. He’s right at the crossroads of being the exact kind of player that succeeds with where the league is going but before many teams in the draft caught up to it. In a few years a player like this won’t be available at 9.
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He's instantly the best skater on the team wouldn't you say?
 
EichHart said:
He's instantly the best skater on the team wouldn't you say?
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His initial burst is the best for sure…but I could watch Skinner skate all day. For function…Savoie is probably the best. For pure beauty…Skinner should be hanging in a museum. Bryson is also great
 
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Ace said:
His initial burst is the best for sure…but I could watch Skinner skate all day. For function…Savoie is probably the best. For pure beauty…Skinner should be hanging in a museum. Bryson is also great
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Agreed. I think overall Savoie is our best skater. Those 3 are definitely top 3.
 
I think Dahlin and Power have excellent skating or are you talking about speed?
 
Fjordy said:
I think Dahlin and Power have excellent skating or are you talking about speed?
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Dahlin has fantastic technique in his skating, but is missing an explosive burst and top end speed.

Power is a fantastic skater for his size. He's pretty average with his top end speed, and acceleration.

Savoie has great technique, burst in his skating, and very good top end speed.
 
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OkimLom said:
Dahlin has fantastic technique in his skating, but is missing an explosive burst and top end speed.

Power is a fantastic skater for his size. He's pretty average with his top end speed, and acceleration.

Savoie has great technique, burst in his skating, and very good top end speed.
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EichHart said:
Dahlins first few steps are very slow. Power I'll need to see more of.
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Well, I think they both Dahlin and Power have great skating, but if we are talking about speed, acceleration and so on, then Savoie certainly looks like a favorite here.
 
Fjordy said:
Well, I think they both Dahlin and Power have great skating, but if we are talking about speed, acceleration and so on, then Savoie certainly looks like a favorite here.
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And that's fine.

Personally, when I think of skating, I tend to think of the overall picture of the player and their skating, and everything that goes into it. There's not a player on the team that has better 4-direction skating than Dahlin. There's nobody better on this team with his edgework than Skinner. Not sure there's anybody on the team at producing power in his skating like Tuch can. Without going into much detail with the ratings on the team, I probably have Savoie in my top 5 on the team already in every category in terms of skating. There are a few that I would put him in my top 2.
 
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I forgot about Tuch. Man once he is going he is a flying tank out there.
 
Dingo44 said:
This quote from Patrick makes him sound a bit like Martin St. Louis:
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Exactly. Briere was 5'10' and pretty freaking hard to move around the net. Tough as nails, ready to spear anyone screwing with him. Cozens is five inches taller, and I would be happy to bet he never measures up to the same grittiness. I like Cozens, but he's a bit string bean-like. Cozens is no wimp, but he lacks a real physical presence. He's just not thick. I doubt he ever will be.
 
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