What does a successful 2025-26 season look like for Oilers’ Matt Savoie?

He also got on the scoreboard against the Seattle Kraken on Oct. 1. It was a goal-scorer’s goal where he presented his stick for the shot-pass from Adam Henrique and redirected the puck into the net on a night when he led the Oilers’ forwards in ice time (19:49 minutes). The day after, Baggedmilk had some high praise for the 21-year-old:

“Not only is Savoie talented, but he’s also got the instincts you want to see in an offensive prospect. He’s going to score a pile of goals, and the only question I have is how long it’s going to take for him to get things to click at the NHL level. For me, it’s a matter of when, not if.”

The upside is there for Savoie, and it has Oilers fans wondering what his rookie totals might look like, though that total would certainly depend on who his linemates are this upcoming season, and we’ve seen him play with a mix of linemates throughout the exhibition games.

He’s played alongside several players, but one combination that really intrigued me and may even be a hint at the future came recently against Seattle. Savoie was placed on a line with Henrique and fellow rookie Isaac Howard, which felt like a mini throwback to nearly 14 years ago when the Oilers put together hot-shot youngsters Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle on the wings of an aging vet whose wheels had slowed, Shawn Horcoff.

That said, I wrote recently that Savoie could thrive playing with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as his centerman and not starting off playing with the big guns, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, because he wouldn’t be facing the opposition’s top lines night in and night out. That could certainly change if he gets hot out of the gate, but the fact that he has already played in various spots and with a mix of players shows the St. Albert native’s ability to move up and down the lineup.

On that note, in projecting what a successful season would look like points-wise for the former ninth overall draft pick, let’s take a look at point totals put up last season by comparable players from his draft year.

Detroit Red Wings’ Marco Kasper, who made his NHL debut last season and was selected one spot ahead of Savoie, tallied 37 points (19G, 18A) in 77 games, and Chicago Blackhawks’ Frank Nazar, selected four spots behind Savoie, put up 26 points (12G, 13A) in 53 games last season. Though it’s worth noting that both of those players played primarily with offensive players, with Kasper’s most frequent 5v5 linemates last season being Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin, while Nazar’s were Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen.

Predicting who Savoie’s linemates will be this upcoming season is anyone’s guess, but we do know that he’ll play with a quality centerman. But based on his skill, opportunity and the points his draftmates put up last season, who were drafted in spots close to him — between Nazar’s 26 points and Kasper’s 37 — I’d say a 31-point season (15G, 16A) should be considered a success for Savoie, and anything beyond that is gravy. Of course, I’d love to see him prove me wrong and turn in a season that puts him in the Calder Trophy conversation.

Turn His Speed Into More Opportunity with the Oilers

Countless examples highlight Savoie’s speed, but the one that always comes to mind first comes from Chicago Blackhawks’ star Connor Bedard, who had some high praise for him. Back in their days battling in the WHL, Bedard said of Savoie, “He’s unreal. He’s one of the fastest guys I’ve ever seen. He can think at such a high level that it’s really cool to see.”

Additionally, according to NHL Edge data, Savoie’s top skating speed during his four-game stint last regular season was clocked at 23.22 MPH, placing him in the top 92nd percentile league-wide. He also won the AHL’s Fastest Skater Competition at last season’s AHL All-Star Challenge. And with a full summer of offseason training under his belt, I anticipate he could reach an even higher level this upcoming season, and we saw what it could do last game against the Canucks — stealing the puck from Kiefer Sherwood, creating a breakaway, making a nice move, but couldn’t put the puck past Thatcher Demko.

That said, success through his speed could set the stage for even bigger opportunities.

Of course, that kind of speed can translate into points, but he was also second among Oilers forwards, behind only Kasperi Kapanen, in shorthanded minutes played (7:55) during the exhibition games. It’s a sign the coaches may be eyeing him for a spot on the PK to start the season, and for good reason.

An example of how his speed can be an asset on the PK came in the first period of the last game against the Canucks. Thanks to his anticipation and quick first steps while shorthanded, he read a play where the puck was rung around, and he bolted into the corner to impede Elias Pettersson. The impediment prevented the Canuck from gaining control of the puck, allowing Mattias Ekholm to knock it down the ice, with Savoie’s first steps and speed creating the sequence. Last season, the Oilers’ PK at times seemed a step slow in closing lanes and getting to loose pucks, and Savoie could help with that.

Additionally, that kind of speed has a way of forcing doors open. As mentioned, it’s likely Savoie starts in the middle six, but as Baggedmilk summarized, it may not be long before he gets a look playing with the Oilers’ dynamic duo:

“It’s still way too early to staple his name to McDavid or Draisaitl’s wing, but if he keeps playing with this blend of speed and tenacity, it’s going to be damn near impossible for the coaching staff to keep him away from prime-time minutes.”

To play with two of the world’s best centermen, McDavid or Draisaitl, you not only need skill but also a good work ethic and strong puck retrievals — something Savoie’s speed allows him to do very well. Moreover, we saw an example of that in the St. Albert native’s first NHL game last season, when his quick feet allowed him to beat a D-man and deliver a nifty backhand pass to Draisaitl, who finished the play off.

Speed like that doesn’t just make highlight plays, it creates opportunities. If Savoie continues to use it to his advantage, it could earn him more ice time, a spot on the PK, regular looks alongside the league’s best centermen, and overall serve as a ticket to earning bigger roles this season.