The Edmonton Oilers are looking to redeem themselves in the upcoming season. The Florida Panthers slew the team for the second consecutive time in the battle for the Stanley Cup. The finale exposed the Oilers’ blatant goaltending woes and penalty problems, and by the end of it all, the team had little left in them, emotionally and physically, to secure a win.
The Edmonton front office has traded away youth for experience. Acquiring Jake Walman from the San Jose Sharks cost the management a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft and forward prospect Carl Berglund. Vasily Podkolzin and Hobey Baker winner Ike Howard were good youth additions to the Oilers, but even then, a trade may be necessary somewhere down the line.
21-year-old Matthew Savoie, a former first-round pick, could be Bowman’s choice for a probable trade.
Matt Savoie Is High Up on The Athletic’s List of Edmonton Oilers Players Who Could Be Traded
Savoie’s exploits during his time with the Bakersfield Condors are well known. The 21-year-old accumulated 54 points in 66 regular-season games in the AHL. He is known for his remarkable offensive skills and puckhandling. He is also known for his pace and constant attacking tendencies. What are the odds that Bowman strikes a trade involving Savoie?
As Allan Mitchell stated, writing for The Athletic, whether Savoie gets traded depends on a few factors. First of all, the 21-year-old will get the opportunity to prove himself. “Matt Savoie will get every chance to earn a spot on one of Edmonton’s top two lines this fall and winter. He’s a high-skill winger who impressed with his offence and outscoring with the Bakersfield Condors.”
Fellow rookie Howard, a Hobey Baker winner, does not have the league experience that Savoie does. The Alberta native was drafted in the first round by the Buffalo Sabres and played one regular-season game with the team in the 2023-24 season. “Unlike his fellow rookie Howard, Savoie has a year of pro experience in which he thrived and proved able to stay healthy.”
Mitchell opined that if Savoie were to stay, he would have to get along with Oilers standout Leon Draisaitl. “If he develops chemistry with Leon Draisaitl on the second line during the season, Savoie isn’t going anywhere.”
Howard, despite lacking pro experience, has much to offer. He has two NCAA championships and accumulated 52 points in 37 games in his last season playing with the Michigan State Spartans, in addition to the Hobey Baker award.
It sounds wonderful to have Howard and Savoie on the team, but that comes with its own challenges. “However, it’s difficult for any Stanley Cup contender to develop two rookie skill wingers in the same season, and if he struggles during the year, Savoie might get cashed for a more established veteran.”
At this point, the Oilers just want redemption, and if Savoie wants to be a part of the team’s comeback, he needs to make a strong case for himself.