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

[Matt Ress]

So far, he has responded with a solid season and no sulking. Very positive. It's a long road in the NHL. Where you are at 20 isn't where you are at 28. But as a kid, that can be tough to see. I like his tenacity more than anything else. I haven't watched enough to see his skating. Amazing how good a league the NHL is today. Every inch counts.

Sabres need guys with talent but also players who will win puck battles all game long which is easier said than done. Just haven't seen enough of him to know if he's all about talent or a battler in junior.

In the Ruff coached, Presidents Cup winning season, they played a less physical 3 man roundabout to keep possession in the Ozone. Kind of a game of keep away.

Defenders were just chasing their man around the passing circle. When man to man defense broke down the forwards were keen to notice and someone went to the net for a very good pass and slot shot. When the D backed off and played more of a zone, the skilled forwards had plenty of time to make plays. Once they got into that passing rotation, they were really tough to stop.

The smaller forwards were able to contribute to puck possession while also flashing their skills and setting each other up. It kept defenders chasing. I'm hoping Ruff can implement equally effective Ozone measures.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

In the Ruff coached, Presidents Cup winning season, they played a less physical 3 man roundabout to keep possession in the Ozone. Kind of a game of keep away.

Defenders were just chasing their man around the passing circle. When man to man defense broke down the forwards were keen to notice and someone went to the net for a very good pass and slot shot. When the D backed off and played more of a zone, the skilled forwards had plenty of time to make plays. Once they got into that passing rotation, they were really tough to stop.

The smaller forwards were able to contribute to puck possession while also flashing their skills and setting each other up. It kept defenders chasing. I'm hoping Ruff can implement equally effective Ozone measures.

I always thought the 2005-06 team played a more physical game than in 2006-07. It was subtle and mostly the same lineup, but it just felt like a different team Maybe it's all in my heads because they were underdogs..

His skating, pace, and work rate are some of the best assets of his game. That and his ability to shoot the puck and score in a variety of ways from all distances. Offensively, the kid has chops.

The biggest question with him is going to be durability at his size. We’ve already seen shoulder and arm stuff derail him twice and he just turned 20.

He's actually pretty thick for his weight. Sometimes, injuries in the NHL are learning how to be hit and when to take risks. Injuries can be fluky too but experience helps.

 

[Chainshot]

I always thought the 2005-06 team played a more physical game than in 2006-07. It was subtle and mostly the same lineup, but it just felt like a different team Maybe it's all in my heads because they were underdogs..



He's actually pretty thick for his weight. Sometimes, injuries in the NHL are learning how to be hit and when to take risks. Injuries can be fluky too but experience helps.

Yeah, I like that he will burrow to high danger areas. He is top six or nothing though imho. But my word does he remind me of Briere.

 

[SECRET SQUIRREL]

Yeah, I like that he will burrow to high danger areas. He is top six or nothing though imho. But my word does he remind me of Briere.

Briere was exactly who I comped him to 4/5 years ago! It's uncanny how similar their playing styles are.

 

[Gabrielor]

Yeah, I like that he will burrow to high danger areas. He is top six or nothing though imho. But my word does he remind me of Briere.

I think he'll be top line, and only injuries will prevent it. Benson-Savoie-xxx or Benson-xxx-Savoie will be the future top Sabre line.

top xxx candidates being Peterka, Quinn, Tage, Cozens.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Briere was exactly who I comped him to 4/5 years ago! It's uncanny how similar their playing styles are.

I picture him being the Sabres Jarvis

 

[Faceboner]

I picture him being the Sabres Jarvis

Savoie has dynamic speed and can change gears effortlessly compared to Jarvis they play with the same mindset but savoie has better tools to work with

 

[Reddawg]

Savoie has dynamic speed and can change gears effortlessly compared to Jarvis they play with the same mindset but savoie has better tools to work with

Sabres' Jarvis+ would be fine also

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Savoie has dynamic speed and can change gears effortlessly compared to Jarvis they play with the same mindset but savoie has better tools to work with

I was making the comparison as to how I see Savoie's best utilization. That pesky, all situation player that every team wants a couple of

 

[Chainshot]

First game of the Memorial Cup is tonight, Moose Jaw against host Saginaw. Yes, that will be Josh Bloom on the Spirit.

Also, full marks to whoever on the Warriors thought 'staches were the move -

 

[Chainshot]

Wins the puck, makes the feed, MJ scores.

 

[Chainshot]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1794191572135018762

 

[Chainshot]

Missed this from yesterday -

https://x.com/i/web/status/1793990341734916512

 

[Krieger Bot]

I wonder how long he'll be down in Rochester. Obviously, points aren't everything. But being over over 2 PPG in the WHL is pretty rarified air. Last year, just 2 players pulled that off. 1 was Connor Bedard. And last night, the other player (Stankoven) had the second most EV ice time on a team that won a game in the Western Conference final.

 

[toddkaz]

I wonder how long he'll be down in Rochester. Obviously, points aren't everything. But being over over 2 PPG in the WHL is pretty rarified air. Last year, just 2 players pulled that off. 1 was Connor Bedard. And last night, the other player (Stankoven) had the second most EV ice time on a team that won a game in the Western Conference final.

I think there is 1 spot open for one of Kulich, Savoie or Rosen. Rosen got a longer look than Kulich this past year but really didn't show much. I think a spot is open for who impresses the most in pre-season.

 

[OkimLom]

I think there is 1 spot open for one of Kulich, Savoie or Rosen. Rosen got a longer look than Kulich this past year but really didn't show much. I think a spot is open for who impresses the most in pre-season.

No need to push any of them for a spot right now. The main roster needs an infusion of veteran to help with the leadership void they have more than the young guns.

The 3 should be in Rochester. Both Rosen and Kulich got pretty cold last year for a long spell in the middle of their season. They also didn’t look ready for the NHL in their limited call up. Would like to see them perform much better and more consistent than they showed before saying they are fighting for a spot.

 

[Irie]

I wonder how long he'll be down in Rochester. Obviously, points aren't everything. But being over over 2 PPG in the WHL is pretty rarified air. Last year, just 2 players pulled that off. 1 was Connor Bedard. And last night, the other player (Stankoven) had the second most EV ice time on a team that won a game in the Western Conference final.

In the WHL, prospects are playing against a lot of 16 and 17 year old kids. Not to take anything away from Savoie as a prospect, but WHL points are somewhat relative. Putting up 2 ppg as a 17 year old in the WHL is extremely impressive, doing it at age 20 is great, but it more than likely means that the player should be competing in a higher league at that point.

 

[Krieger Bot]

In the WHL, prospects are playing against a lot of 16 and 17 year old kids. Not to take anything away from Savoie as a prospect, but WHL points are somewhat relative. Putting up 2 ppg as a 17 year old in the WHL is extremely impressive, doing it at age 20 is great, but it more than likely means that the player should be competing in a higher league at that point.

Sure, I'm aware of that. That's why I compared him to other players with similar offensive outputs (including a fellow undersized D+2 forward in Stankoven). And added the "points aren't everything" caveat.

 

[Irie]

Sure, I'm aware of that. That's why I compared him to other players with similar offensive outputs (including a fellow undersized D+2 forward in Stankoven). And added the "points aren't everything" caveat.

I am excited to see what Savoie can do, but I am curbing expectations. I anticipate he will need a couple of seasons in Rochester before he will be ready for the speed of the NHL.

 

[tsujimoto74]

I am excited to see what Savoie can do, but I am curbing expectations. I anticipate he will need a couple of seasons in Rochester before he will be ready for the speed of the NHL.

He was right there with Benson last fall before getting injured. I think he’s much closer than you think.

 

[Irie]

He was right there with Benson last fall before getting injured. I think he’s much closer than you think.

Benson would have benefitted from a year plus in the AHL imo as well. There are parts of Benson's game that showed up well last season in the NHL, but there are many parts of his game that were not ready for this league. The CHL transfer agreement is unfortunate though, so here we are.

 

[toddkaz]

No need to push any of them for a spot right now. The main roster needs an infusion of veteran to help with the leadership void they have more than the young guns.

The 3 should be in Rochester. Both Rosen and Kulich got pretty cold last year for a long spell in the middle of their season. They also didn’t look ready for the NHL in their limited call up. Would like to see them perform much better and more consistent than they showed before saying they are fighting for a spot.

I am gonna let preseason decide that. Why would you deprive a prospect who shows he is ready to be in the NHL?

 

[Dingo44]

Benson would have benefitted from a year plus in the AHL imo as well. There are parts of Benson's game that showed up well last season in the NHL, but there are many parts of his game that were not ready for this league. The CHL transfer agreement is unfortunate though, so here we are.

Many nights Benson was the best player on the team. Benson wasn't given anything - he earned it with his play and he didn't do anything to make the team change their mind.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

I think there is 1 spot open for one of Kulich, Savoie or Rosen. Rosen got a longer look than Kulich this past year but really didn't show much. I think a spot is open for who impresses the most in pre-season.

1. wasnt savoie supposed to have a spot last season and his injury is what opened the door for benson?

2. wouldnt surprise me if kulich was the piece moved in the hunt for the 3c

3. also wouldnt be surprised if rosen was involved in a deal for a 4/3c that gives them flexibility to run krebs up and down the lineup

 

[Irie]

Many nights Benson was the best player on the team. Benson wasn't given anything - he earned it with his play and he didn't do anything to make the team change their mind.

Benson started the season strong and finished the season really well, but between Christmas and the trade deadline there were a lot of nights where he probably would have been better off playing in Rochester. I think the pacing of NHL games and the demanding schedule caught up with him. He's a fantastic young player, but that doesn't mean that he couldn't have used some time in the A in his first pro season if it were possible.

I never said Benson was given anything. My point is that I think it would be wise to not expect Savoie to be a difference maker in the NHL this season, and that sometime in the AHL will be beneficial to him in the long run.