Breaking News: Oilers Relegate Premier Prospect to AHL, Deferring Edmonton Debut.
The Edmonton Oilers made further preseason roster cuts on Sunday, September 29, reducing the team by five players. Sam O’Reilly, the 32nd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, was sent back to the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Defensemen Connor Carrick and Cam Dineen were placed on waivers with the intention of assigning them to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL). Forward Seth Griffith will also report to Bakersfield after being released from his professional tryout (PTO), and center Matt Savoie was loaned to the Condors.
Savoie’s cut is the most notable. There was considerable excitement when Edmonton traded for Savoie on July 5, acquiring him from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forwards Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio. The 20-year-old, drafted ninth overall by Buffalo in 2020, is known for his offensive skills and is coming off a championship run with the Moose Jaw Warriors in the 2024 Western Hockey League (WHL) playoffs, where he averaged over two points per game during the 2023-24 regular season.
With that excitement came high expectations, and some hoped Savoie would make the Oilers’ opening night roster for the 2024-25 season. The St. Albert native already has some NHL experience, having played one regular-season game with Buffalo last November.
However, after four preseason appearances with the Oilers this fall, it has become apparent that Savoie isn’t yet ready for a spot on the team.
Savoie’s first opportunity to impress came earlier in the month during Oilers Rookie Camp and the 2024 Young Stars Classic, an exhibition series in Penticton, B.C., featuring prospects from the Oilers, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, and Winnipeg Jets. Savoie played in all three games, primarily as a winger due to the abundance of centers on the roster. His standout moment came during a 3-1 loss to the Flames, where he assisted on Edmonton’s only goal with a smart pass to Carl Berglund. However, like many top prospects, Savoie had a mix of standout moments and quieter stretches.
As the preseason progressed, Savoie faced more challenges. The Oilers gave him plenty of chances, making him one of just four players to play in all four of the team’s preseason games, logging 60:20 of ice time—second only to Mike Hoffman among forwards. In his debut on September 22, a 3-2 overtime win against the Jets, Savoie impressed with an assist on the game-winning goal by Cam Dineen, setting up a two-on-one play with Vasily Podkolzin.
