Edmonton Hockey Daily has no direct affiliation to the Edmonton Oilers, NHL or NHLPA
Oilers Coach Chris Knoblauch makes questionable ice time decisions with top prospect
The Edmonton Oilers were handed their fourth loss in a row by a score of 4-1 from the Tampa Bay Lightning and Head Coach Kris Knoblauch kept his top prospect Matthew Savoie to the bench most of the game.
Savoie was only given 7 minutes and 57 seconds of ice time which is not a good look for the young prospect. Many feel this is not the way you develop players despite the team and its struggles.
Savoie struggling along with the rest of the Oilers
This sudden mid season tailspin has caught many Oilers fans by surprise as the team has not won one game since it went on its five-game road trip and now has let in 17 goals in three games.
In his short three games with the Oilers, Savoie has only has one assist and has yet to make a big impact on the team as they continue to evaluate their talent as a team has not performed well at all during this road trip.
Savoie living a dream playing for the team he cheered for
It was a dream come true for Savoie as he grew up cheering for the Oilers and now is played for them as he was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres last summer in exchange for Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio.
During training camp, many felt that he would remain with the team for some time as he had shown the skills to stay with the Oilers.
But the team felt otherwise and sent him to the Bakersfield Condors where he had a slow start but had picked up significantly over the past 10 to 12 games.
It remains to be seen on how long he will remain with the Oilers have the team waits to see what management has in store for their lineup.
The NHL trade deadline is on March 7th and many feel the Oilers will be buyers as the team positions itself to take another run at the Stanley Cup.
Over the last few days, the Oilers are showing that much work needs to be done has the team needs to find its winning ways again and solidify it's hold on the Pacific division.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 26 | 955 ANSWERS Oilers Coach Chris Knoblauch makes questionable ice time decisions with top prospect Do you think the Oilers are hurting the development of Matthew Savoie? | ||
| Yes | 425 | 44.5 % |
| No | 530 | 55.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
