Top prospect Matthew Savoie is one of the Oilers feel good stories

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Finnegan Frost
September 11, 2024 (5:54 PM)

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Oilers top prospect Matthew Savoie has emerged as one of the top prospects on the Edmonton Oilers.

During the offseason, it was announced that the Edmonton Oilers are trading forward Ryan McLeod and Ty Tullio to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Matt Savoie. The St. Albert, Alberta product finds himself back in the Canadian prairies, where his story all began.

According to Edmonton Journal's Robert Tychkowski, He was a highly-rated prospect in the Buffalo Sabres organization, drafted ninth overall in 2022, but he spent last summer bleeding Edmonton colours. Nothing against the Sabres, but there's no way a kid who grew up in St. Albert was going to stifle his love for the Oilers in the middle of their Stanley Cup run.

«I got back to Edmonton after the Memorial Cup in June and I'm not afraid to say I was an Oilers fan for those few weeks,» said the dynamic right-shot centre. «The city was buzzing. Me and all my buddies would go watch the games in a restaurant and be a part of the atmosphere. It was really cool to watch the run and how good they did.»

After the trade was officially announced, there was a sense of excitement for Savoie. Naturally, being from St. Albert, Savoie was a die hard Oilers fan growing up. Despite the excitement, Savoie admits it was a bit strange donning the orange and blue at first.

«It was definitely a little weird initially when I heard, but I'm really excited and my family was really excited. I'm coming here to try and prove something and have a good camp.»

Tychkowski also mentions that getting a high-end prospect who produced deep in the WHL playoffs three years in a row (65 points in 48 games), is exactly what the Oilers need. The fact he's a local kid, to boot, only sweetens the deal.

source: Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers turn Ryan McLeod into storybook twist for blue-chip prospect Savoie