Matthew Savoie, 18, is a center who plays for the Winnipeg Ice in the WHL. Could he be a fit for the Philadelphia Flyers?
Matthew Savoie enters the 2022 NHL Draft ranked fourth amongst North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting list. During the 2021-2022 WHL season with the Winnipeg Ice, Savoie scored 90 points (35G, 55A) and had a plus/minus of +54 in 65 games played. Savoie is one of the top centers in this year’s draft, alongside Shane Wright and Logan Cooley.
Savoie was the first overall pick in the 2019 WHL Draft.
Strengths
While being 5-foot-9, Savoie is a quick and dynamic skater. His acceleration is already elite which causes problems for his opponents since he’s not easy to chase down. He has fantastic edge work and agility which helps with making smooth and quick transitions.
Savoie’s offensive abilities are game-changers. He has all the tools you would expect from a potential top-5 selection. His stick handling and puck control are both smooth. He has high awareness and can control play in the offensive zone to create scoring chances. He can even get passes off quickly to his teammates.
Savoie’s shooting is both powerful and accurate. He can score by using any type of shot and can deceive goaltenders. When Savoie doesn’t have the puck, he’s able to create space for his teammates and put himself in scoring positions.
What also makes Savoie a unique player is his ability to play both as a center and on the wing. Savoie can provide offense in any position and situation.
Weaknesses
An obvious weakness in Savoie’s game is his size. He’s one of the smallest players in this draft class, but that shouldn’t be a cause for concern. His defensive abilities aren’t the greatest and that’s a factor due to his size. He does have good positioning along with stick-checking, but he can struggle while battling against bigger skaters.
Potential
Matthew Savoie has the potential to be a first-line center/winger in the NHL. Another year in the WHL would benefit him. Working on adding more strength and fixing some defensive problems would make him more of a stronger overall player.
Could Savoie be a fit for the Flyers?
Savoie will most likely be on the draft board when the Flyers go to make their selection. The potential that Savoie brings of being a high-scoring first-line forward should be intriguing for Chuck Fletcher. Being able to play both as a center and winger, Savoie would be an offensive threat anywhere in the Flyers’ lineup. Savoie can provide talent down the middle and much-needed scoring/skill on the wing.
Although currently not NHL-ready, Savoie could develop into a special player and play a pivotal role in the future of the franchise.
(Photo Credit: Alex McIntyre)
