Oilers' head coach faced with difficult roster decision with two players
Photo credit: Perry Nelson - Imagn Images
In a recent article of Lowetide hockey analyst and writer Allan Mitchell suggested Edmonton might be making the same mistake with Howard and Savoie as the team did with Holloway and Broberg.
I think it's reasonable to argue the Oilers might be wise to send Howard to the minors when Zach Hyman and Mattias Janmark are activated. I would also argue that if Savoie's playing time is reduced more than his current deployment (11:01 at five-on-five per game so far) it's reasonable to send Savoie to Bakersfield as well.
This is Holloway-Broberg all over again, but the coach has earned the leeway to deploy the team as he sees fit.
- Allan Mitchell
This is Holloway-Broberg all over again, but the coach has earned the leeway to deploy the team as he sees fit.
- Allan Mitchell
Knoblauch weighing his choices with prospects
As of today, the Oilers sit one point out of a wild card spot, right behind Chicago. Though 20 games is the typical watermark when teams assess what they have in terms of qualifying for the post-season and beyond, Edmonton has a pretty good idea now about what needs fixing.
One area, of course, has been the low ice-time for Howard and Savoie (and others too), about which feelings have been mixed. Some say play them more, some say they need more time to develop in the AHL.
Yet, the expectations for Howard and Savoie before the season started were huge - and still are - with the goal of developing them into players who can help provide scoring. This has not been the case thus far.
Ike Howard has scored a goal and an assist in 15 games, and Matt Savoie two goals and one assist in the same number of games played.
Now, some of this can be attributed to where they play in the lineup, and how little they actual are playing.
In the last five games, Matt Savoie's TOI has been 13:22, 10:31, 10:54, 11:42 and 9:34 at 5v5, with his line scoring 2G and allowing 2G, while outshooting its opposition 21-15.
Ike Howard, also in the last five games, has played 8:37, 8:49, 9:12, 7:00 and 7:22 5v5. His line is also 2-2 in goals and 15-17 in shots.
Judging from the TOI for both players, Knoblauch seems set on not playing them higher-up in the lineup, perhaps lacking some trust in their ability to contribute with the offense.
As far as the next game goes, against Colorado, Knoblauch has both players projected to be on the 3rd-line with David Tomasek.
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