Why the Blue Jackets should consider drafting Matthew Savoie, a dual-threat forward
Matthew Savoie has been on the radar of NHL teams for longer than most other draft prospects in this class.
At just 14, he tore up the U18 Canadian School Sport league, posting 71 points in 31 games — and scoring at a goal-per-game rate. He then applied for exceptional status in the WHL, which would've allowed him to play a full season in the WHL at just 15. Though his application was denied, he still played 22 games with the Winnipeg Ice that season after they drafted him first overall in the WHL draft.
When the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the 2020-21 WHL season, Savoie shifted gears to the USHL, where he finished fourth on his team in points with 38 in 34 games, despite being an underage player and not playing the whole season.
And this year, Savoie's first full WHL season, he led his team with 90 points in 65 games, good for seventh in the entire league and the most among 2022-eligible skaters.
Savoie is widely considered one of the top 10 prospects in this draft, putting him squarely in range for the Blue Jackets at sixth and 12th overall. Here's what else to know about the forward, who ranks fourth on NHL Central Scouting's list of North American skaters:
Position: Center/wing
Height, weight: 5-9, 170
Shoots: Right
Birthdate: Jan. 1, 2004
Hometown: St. Albert, Alberta, CAN
Team (League): Winnipeg (WHL)
2021-22 point totals: 35 goals and 55 assists in 65 games
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What are Matthew Savoie's strengths?
Conor Geekie, a fellow top prospect and Savoie's teammate in Winnipeg, was full of praise for Savoie at the combine.
"Probably the fastest player I’ve ever played with," Geekie said. "Sometimes I even get lost trying to find him for a pass. Really good player, super good speed."
Indeed, Savoie's speed is the hallmark of his game. And he blends that speed with solid puck skills, making him a dynamic offensive threat who can both make plays and shoot the puck. Finding that balance between passing and shooting is still an area of growth for Savoie, but he's demonstrated an ability to do both at a high level.
"I think my offensive abilities, my skating ability, is what makes me stand out as a player," Savoie said. "I think I have good vision in the offensive zone and can make plays. I’m always looking for whoever has the best chance to score. I think those are my biggest assets as a player."
Though he's a smaller player, Savoie's skating gives him a solid base of support and enables him to slip away from defenders, similar to how Chicago's Patrick Kane avoids being a physical target. He's also more physical than most 5-9 forwards and understands how to use his skating and body to protect the puck and fend off pressure on the forecheck.
What are Matthew Savoie's weaknesses?
While his high-pace game can be an asset, Savoie can play too fast at times, sometimes looking panicked with the puck on his stick and rushing decisions under pressure. The pace he plays with can also lead to him forcing a play rather than waiting a moment for a better option to develop.
Most NHL teams will point to Savoie's size as a weakness, and there simply aren't many NHL centers that are his size. Tampa Bay's Brayden Point is a popular comparable for undersized, skilled scorers these days, and it's easy to see why, but it's important to remember that Point is more of an exception than the rule.
Savoie also graded out poorly in offensive transition, as tracked by Will Scouch, across a sample of games spread throughout the season. He ranked in the bottom 30% of Scouch's 80-forward data set, which isn't the performance expected of a player generally considered fast and effective with the puck.
That potentially indicates a lack of a separating gear in his skating, or could demonstrate that his smaller reach leaves him vulnerable to longer players interfering with him in transition.
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How would Matthew Savoie fit in the Blue Jackets' system?
Savoie's fit for the Jackets depends quite a bit on whether Columbus projects him to play center or wing long-term.
"I definitely feel comfortable at both positions," Savoie said. "The past two or three years I’ve kind of flip-flopped back and forth consistently, leaving it in the hands of my coaching staff wherever they feel I best fit.
With Patrik Laine, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Jakub Voracek and Alexandre Texier in the NHL, plus Kent Johnson if he ends up playing the wing, and Liam Foudy, Kirill Marchenko and Dmitry Voronkov all in the prospect pool, the Jackets have more wingers with top-six potential than there are roster spots for those players.
If the Jackets see Savoie as a center, despite only being 5-9, that changes the equation somewhat. Though center is no longer a gaping hole on the roster, nearly every team is always on the hunt for skilled centers, particularly those with the dual-threat offensive skills of Savoie.
Will Matthew Savoie be available for the Blue Jackets?
According to the majority of mock drafts, Savoie could be selected anywhere between fifth and 15th. His most likely landing spot is somewhere between the Jackets' two picks at No. 6 and No. 12, though it's very possible that he could still be on the board at 12.
He's unlikely to be selected in the top five, as the top six selections seem set to be some order of Shane Wright, Juraj Slafkovksy, Logan Cooley, David Jiricek, Simon Nemec and Cutter Gauthier.
How long until Matthew Savoie is ready for the NHL?
Strength is the biggest concern for Savoie, as it is for most players of his stature. His speed helps him compensate for being a smaller player, but if he's going to play against men full-time, he'll need to add strength to avoid being taken advantage of physically.
Projecting how long that will take is an inexact science, but it'll be at minimum another year in the WHL, if not two.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: NHL draft profile: Matthew Savoie, an undersized, dual-threat forward
