Matt Savoie, Ike Howard on top line as Oilers rookies take on Flames rookies

Originally posted on Oilersnation | By Zach Laing | Last updated Sep 12, 2025 2:00 PM ET

Edmonton Oilers fans will get a look at a one-two punch that could help carry them into the future on Friday night.

When the Oilers rookies and Calgary Flames rookies meet up for the first taste of hockey since late June, Matt Savoie and Ike Howard will be playing on the top line together. Savoie, who was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres and Howard from the Tampa Bay Lightning in each of the last two summers, will be centred by European free agent signing Josh Samanski.

Those aren’t the only young players in prominent spots, as the top defensive pairing will see 2023 second-round pick Beau Akey alongside NCAA signing Damian Carfagna.

The @EdmontonOilers Rookies tonight:

Howard-Samanski-Savoie
Pitlick-Marjala-Hutson
Clattenburg-Copponi-Lafrenière
Stonehouse-Lewandowski-Stefan
O’Neill

Carfagna-Akey
Krebs-Von Richter
Woodall-Adam
Davidson

Jonsson
Day
Banini

— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) September 12, 2025

The lineup is littered with other young Oilers prospects, like forwards Quinn Hutson, who is another player the team signed out of the NCAA ranks this spring. Viljami Marjala joins Samanski as the two European free agents.

There’s a number of draftees in the lineup, too. 2022 fifth round pick goaltender Samuel Jonsson is the only player from that class in rookie camp, while Akey, forward Matt Copponi (seventh round) and goaltender Nathaniel Day (sixth round) are all from the 2023 class.

From the 2024 class is forward Connor Clattenburg (fifth round) and fellow forwards Tommy Lafreniere (third round) and David Lewandowski (fourth round) are the representatives from the 2025 class.

The blue line has multiple camp invites, including Dru Krebs, Parker Von Richter, Carson Woodall, Jaxen Adam and Hyde Davidson. Forward Rhett Pitlick and goaltender Josh Banini are the two others on the roster.

The Flames will be without top prospect defenceman Zayne Parekh, who hasn’t participated in their rookie camp for precautionary reasons as he’s been dealing with an injury this summer.

Puck drop is set for 7 pm at Rogers Place with tickets still available. It can be seen on OilersPlus.

This article first appeared on Oilersnation and was syndicated with permission.

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