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Edmonton Oilers rookie Matt Savoie in trouble, could see major demotion
The Edmonton Oilers bottom six forward group is entirely underwater right now, and rookie Matt Savoie is among the players struggling the most - even across the NHL.
The problems of the Oilers' bottom six have been well documented through this season, and the team has yet to find a solution. The top two lines are carrying the entire load offensively, while the bottom six subtract from their success by getting caved in.
Oilers bottom six struggling massively, Matt Savoie starts getting benched
The Oilers traded for Savoie hoping that he'd be able to develop into an offensive threat for the top-six, but it's not happening halfway through his rookie year. Savoie has just 1 point in his last 6 games, and is posting below-replacement numbers offensively now.
Oilers coach Knoblauch has started to fade Savoie's minutes in recent games, which is a troubling sign.
Oilers analyst Allan Mitchell has raised the significant reduction of minutes for Savoie at even strength as a poor sign of the coach's confidence in him. Savoie is scoring at one of the lowest rates in the NHL, but a few other Oilers are even behind him.
Matt Savoie played just 8:10 at five-on-five, you always worry when that happens.
The Matt Savoie worry is reaching new heights in this house. Very much like the player, but he's currently at .75 points-60 at five-on-five. No small sample either, this is 480 minutes of hockey. Among the goup who have played 480+ minutes this season, Savoie ranks No. 238 of 246. The reak kick in the ass? Henrique is 243rd and Frederic 245th! Maybe recall Quinn Hutson.
- Allan Mitchell
The Matt Savoie worry is reaching new heights in this house. Very much like the player, but he's currently at .75 points-60 at five-on-five. No small sample either, this is 480 minutes of hockey. Among the goup who have played 480+ minutes this season, Savoie ranks No. 238 of 246. The reak kick in the ass? Henrique is 243rd and Frederic 245th! Maybe recall Quinn Hutson.
- Allan Mitchell
It's not just Savoie that's not working out in the bottom six. It's practically everybody. The Oilers desperately need a way to at least reduce the rate their bottom two lines are being out-scored.
They have two options in the minors who are lighting up the scoresheet in Ike Howard and Quinn Hutson. The problem is, when they were with the Oilers, Coach Knoblauch didn't trust them to play above 4th line minutes.
Perhaps this is a situation the Oilers can only address this season by trade with proven veterans.