Matthew Savoie.
The lottery balls did not bounce in favor of the Seattle Kraken during the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery. Falling out of the top three, Seattle picks fourth overall at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Nonetheless, there is still a plethora of talent to choose from.
With their first abysmal season behind them, the Kraken could benefit from bringing in talent at any position. Seattle’s defense wasn’t bad, per se, but their blueline is aging, averaging 27 years old. That’s about on par with the league-wide average. However, this core has about three seasons before reaching its peak scoring performance.
Also, with four selections in the second round, it might serve the Kraken well to look for young talent on the blueline. The same goes for goalies. While it’s easy to point to goaltending as Seattle’s Achillie’s Heel, the time it takes a goaltender to mature rarely justifies selecting one in the first round. Additionally, this time around, no goaltenders are ranked in the Top 32 by any draft expert.
That brings us to the Seattle Kraken’s offensive talent, or lack thereof. They ended the 2021-22 season 28th in goals scored, with an average of 2.60 goals per game. There were plenty of missed opportunities for the Kraken in the Expansion draft that could have improved their offense drastically. Vladimir Tarasenko, who scored 34 goals and 84 points, is just one name that comes to mind.
Seattle General Manager Ron Francis really missed the mark in that aspect last summer. This draft is his chance to set things right and find another star player to feature in a few seasons with center Matty Beniers. During his 10-game NHL audition, Beniers showed flashes of brilliance.
However, the former Michigan Wolverines star can’t carry the Kraken alone. Matthew Savoie could be the perfect piece for the floundering Kraken to add to their growing prospect pool.
Date of Birth: January 1, 2004
Age: 18
Place of Birth: St. Albert, AB, CAN
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 179lbs
NHL Comparison: Brayden Point, Mathew Barzal
Selected first overall in the 2019 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft, Matthew Savoie’s rookie season with the Winnipeg Ice was delayed due to Covid-19. Post-draft, he played 22 games in Winnipeg, registering 7 assists. However, due to shut-downs and season delays due to the pandemic, he joined the Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL) for four games before that league was also shut down.
Turning to the USHL, Savoie joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints for the remainder of their season. He posted 38 points (21g, 17a) in 34 games. He was one of three rookie forwards to finish his season with more than a point-per-game (1.12.) Also, his 21 goals were second among rookies, earning him a spot on the USHL All-Rookie Team.
When the WHL returned to normal play, he rejoined Winnipeg to compete in his rookie season. During pre-season, Savoie posted 3 points in his only game, a positive sign of what was to come. In his rookie campaign, Savoie exploded. His 90-point season (35g, 55a) not only earned him the WHL Most Points by Rookie Award but put him in the Top 10 among WHL scorers.
According to some scouts, Savoie seemed to be the only player in the draft with enough potential to take Shane Wright’s name out of the running for first overall. If Wright and Logan Cooley weren’t at the top of this year’s draft race, Savoie would likely hear his name called first overall.
Wright and Cooley’s potential to be NHL-ready following the draft is a big reason they are the most sought-after prizes in this class. With the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils drafting first and second respectably, the toolbox Wright and Cooley possess seems to be a better fit for first and second overall.
Despite Savoie’s laundry list of skills, however, there are still a few areas the 18-year-old centerman needs to work on to round out his game. Some scouts believe his (lack of) height is slightly problematic. Standing at 5’9”, he is on the smaller side.
He could see his draft stock fall slightly, much as Cole Caufield did in 2019. If NHL General Managers are smart, his size shouldn’t be a factor when considering his skill. But, if a GM is looking for a centerman and believes Savoie’s height would better serve him on the wing, he could be looked over.
Height is not something Savoie can control, and if he gets passed on because of that, Seattle has a prime opportunity to swoop in and steal one of the best playmakers in this year’s draft. Also, keep in mind that he’s only 18 and still has some room to grow physically.
However, here are a few areas of his game that he needs to work on before he is NHL-ready.
One of the biggest criticisms of Savoie’s game early in the 2021-22 season was his 5v5 play. Most of his points came on the man advantage. There is nothing wrong with being a strong player on special teams, but when a player scores more on the power-play than at 5v5, there has to be a disconnect somewhere.
Power play success in the NHL has been on the rise over the last few years despite teams seeing less time with the man advantage. Special teams are important, but most of the game happens 5v5. A player’s success at even strength is often more repeatable than they are with the man advantage.
Savoie turned it around and showed significant improvement throughout the rest of the season. By season’s end, only 12 of his 35 goals came on the power-play. Savoie must improve his play at 5v5 to reach his full potential.
Another area that needs to see more improvement is in his defensive game. While Savoie isn’t bad defensively, he has room for improvement. Defense is where his size might be more of a detriment to him. He struggles to gain control over bigger, stronger, or more physical players. Consequently, it sometimes leads to his hesitation to commit.
The final critique about his game is simply that he is a passer. Like many creative playmakers, Savoie sometimes opts for the pass when he should shoot. His 35 goals in 65 games are nothing to scoff at. Then again, if he was willing to take a few more risks and shoot more often, he could score more often. Defenders would have to honor that. In turn, creating better opportunities for the team.
These issues aren’t detrimental to his game. He will improve with time and experience. With more developmental time in juniors or minor leagues and the right coaching, Savoie is well on his way to reaching his full potential as a Top 6 player in the NHL.
Watching Matthew Savoie take over the ice is electrifying. There’s a reason the scouts call him the best playmaker of this years draft. His energy on the ice is contagious; he is always on the move and making plays.
Savoie is a highly deceptive player, utilizing his speed and smooth puck handling to get around defenders. He takes full advantage of the space allotted to him and moves the puck with ease.
When Savoie jumps on the ice, he drives the pace. His incredible vision allows him to see the game several steps ahead of everyone else, and he will change speeds to fool defenders, setting up his teammates for the perfect pass.
The young center has been criticized for his pass-first mentality, but he has a lethal shot. He can pull the trigger and make his presence known if he feels like the moment is right. His shot has plenty of power, with his hard wristers being the most accurate.
While he struggles to accelerate every now and then, once he gets up to speed, Savoie is almost unstoppable. His clean edge work and outstanding agility make his skating look effortless, allowing for smooth and quick transitions.
Special teams are where he thrives. Savoie is a power-play specialist and generates many of his points on the man advantage. According to Hadi Kalakech (of Dobber Prospects), he mans the half-wall on the power play better than anyone in this class.
While skilled with the puck, he shows the same dedication when the puck is off his stick. He is always finding his way into shooting lanes, and his high IQ helped him analyze situations accurately. His tenacity is admirable for a player so young.
Savoie is the kind of player who carries his line but still manages to make his teammates look better in the process. Whether he plays at center or transitions to the wing in the NHL, he provides explosive offense in every situation. Adding more strength and another year or two of development to iron out his flaws will make him a major threat for years to come.
The Seattle Kraken’s best bet with the fourth overall pick is taking a forward. They have a plethora of picks this year and will likely find gems in the mid to later rounds, which will add to their blueline and goalie pipeline. Francis is building a prospect pool from the ground up, so he has to be picky and particular when making selections.
Matthew Savoie could be an excellent pick for the Seattle Kraken, but it’s also worth asking if his game is too similar to Beniers. Does Seattle need two Top 6 centers with similar styles in their system?
In my opinion, yes. Beniers and Savoie’s play style differs enough that it would be worth it to have both. In the places where Beniers struggles, Savoie excels, and vice versa.
While Savoie is an excellent playmaker, he can also score. If he gets past his “pass first” mentality, it is likely he will find the back of the net more often. Beniers could also rub off on him defensively, helping him grow in an area he struggles in.
Savoie’s ability to play both center and wing would make him a valuable asset. Versatile players, who transition to different positions well, are hard to come by. Seattle could likely put him anywhere, and he would succeed.
His overall skill set is enough to offset quite a few of the Seattle Kraken’s deficiencies. He could be part of the solution to their goal-scoring issues in addition to their bottom five power play.
He can easily manipulate his opponents to play the game his way. Savoie seems to always be in control, and the Seattle Kraken need his kind of consistency on the ice.
Francis has made many mistakes in his first year as the Seattle Kraken’s GM. However, selecting Matthew Savoie on draft day could be a redeeming move.
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