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Kris Knoblauch Drops Big Hint Regarding Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie's Roles for Next Season

Originally posted on Hockey Latest | By Daniel Lucente | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 9:52 AM ET

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch revealed how he plans to use Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie next season, and hinted they could crack the top-six group.

The Edmonton Oilers are getting young for next year. By parting ways with vets Corey Perry, Connor Brown, Jeff Skinner, and John Klingberg, all 30-plus in age, the team has taken a sharp turn in the direction of youth.

Rather than attempting to bring in experience for experience, GM Stan Bowman has opted to infuse speed and energy into the lineup.

The Oilers added a bunch of players in their 20s this offseason

The Oilers signed 29-year-old Andrew Mangiapane via free agency and 21-year-old Isaac Howard via trade. Bowman also indicated that 21-year-old Matt Savoie is expected to be a full-time NHLer this season.

Andrew Mangiapane has been penciled into a top-six role, but the plans for Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard were unclear until now.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch, who is typically conservative with younger players, indicated that both youngsters could receive top-six minutes.

'Within the organization, there is a lot of belief that these are key players,' Knoblauch said. 'Ideally, we would love to have Howard/Savoie being able to play in the top six immediately and have an impact, understanding that there will be some mistakes, but they are just gonna continue to get better, and hopefully that will be the case.'
'There's gonna be mistakes. Even our most seasoned veterans make mistakes, and you'd be silly to think they are gonna come in and the transition is gonna be seamless We got a lot of belief in these guys.'

With Edmonton looking slow and old in the Stanley Cup Final, Knoblauch may have no choice but to turn to youth. Savoie, a five-game NHLer, might even get penalty kill time, an indication the staff feels he is more than just an offensive specialist.

'Savoie, one thing that I'm very optimistic about is his penalty killing and how good he was in Bakersfield in that role,' Knoblauch said. 'Certainly, we saw him being a reliable two-way player at five-on-five.
'That's an opportunity for Savoie [to get a role], especially on the penalty kill, not that he can't be on the power play, but I definitely see him having a big part of our penalty kill.'

Howard, a greater scoring threat, will probably be eased in gradually on the power play rotation with the hope that he can someday be a contributor on the team's potent top unit.

'Howard is a very offensively gifted player and probably trying to find him some kind of role in the power play,' Knoblauch said. 'The first unit power play has worked so well together for a long period of time. Probably getting his start on the second unit power play and working from there.'

As the Oilers attempt to end Canada's Stanley Cup drought, the path ahead is clear: believe in the children.

This article first appeared on Hockey Latest and was syndicated with permission.

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