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CTV News
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Saskatchewan's connections to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final
Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch behind the bench during NHL action against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 30, 2024, in Denver. (David Zalubowski/Associated Press) For the first time since 2009 the Stanley Cup Final will be a rematch of the same two teams that faced off for it all the previous year. Game 1 of the best of seven series for hockey's ultimate prize between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers goes Wednesday night from the Alberta capital. Florida won the franchise's first championship last year in seven games after the Oilers stormed back from a 3-0 series deficit. Here's Saskatchewan's connections to the rematch series going down this June. Edmonton Oilers Kris Knoblauch – Imperial, Sask. In just his second season as the Oilers' head coach, Imperial's Kris Knoblauch is already in his second Stanley Cup Final. Since taking over coaching duties early in the 2023-24 season, Knoblauch has led the Oilers to a 94-47-10 record in regular season games. Heading into the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers are 12-4 so far in their playoff run with Knoblauch in charge. Leon Draisaitl – Prince Albert Raiders Now one of the best players in the NHL, Draisaitl began his North American career in the Western Hockey League with the Prince Albert Raiders. The German forward put up 105 points in the 2013-14 season for Prince Albert. That followed a rookie season with the Raiders that saw him tally a respectable 58 points in 64 games. Matt Savoie – Moose Jaw Warriors Forward Matt Savoie hasn't gotten into a playoff game in 2025 and has only played four regular season games for the Oilers so far. But there are high expectations for the young forward in the Alberta capital. Many of those expectations were born when Savoie was a member of the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2023-24 and was instrumental in helping the franchise win the 2024 WHL championship. In 23 regular season games with the Warriors, Savoie recorded 47 points. He added 24 more in Moose Jaw's 2024 championship run. Stuart Skinner – Swift Current Broncos The Oilers' starting goaltender who has posted three shutouts in the 2025 playoffs so far is also a former WHL champion. Stuart Skinner spent part of the 2017-18 season with the Swift Current Broncos and posted a 16-6-1 regular season record before recording a 2.20 GAA and .932 SV% in the 2018 WHL playoffs helping the Broncos to a 2018 WHL championship. Glen Gulutzan – Hudson Bay, Sask. Hudson Bay's Glen Gulutzan is now in his seventh season as an assistant coach for the Oilers. He played seven games for the Moose Jaw Warriors as well as the 1991-92 season with the Saskatoon Blades. He then played two years with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies before going on to play professionally in the United States prior to his coaching career. Stew MacDonald – Regina Pats MacDonald started his working career as the Regina Pats' director of marketing and publicity in the 1980s. He then moved on to the Edmonton Oilers and is now the teams' president and chief revenue officer, a role he's held since 2010. MacDonald was also part of the Oilers organization for three Stanley Cups when he was the teams' director of marketing. Jeff Lang – Davidson, Sask. The Davidson, Sask. product has been the Oilers' head equipment manager since 2010. Prior to his time with the Oilers, Lang worked for Hockey Canada and was part of the Olympic gold medal winning men's hockey team in 2002 as a member of the teams' equipment staff. Brad Harrison – Yorkton, Sask. From Yorkton, Brad Harrison is an assistant equipment manager with the Oilers. Harrison was an equipment manager for the Regina Pats in the late 1980s before moving to Germany to work for the Frankfurt Lions. Harrison returned to Canada to work for the Toronto Marlies before being hired by the Oilers. Jim Crosson – Regina, Sask. The Regina product is an amateur scout for the Oilers. He also spent time as the general manager for the AJHL's Lloydminster Bobcats and was head coach for the Sherwood Park Crusaders before being hired by the Oilers. Florida Panthers Reid Jackson – Weyburn, Sask. The Weyburn, Sask. product is a professional scout for the Panthers. As a player, the 32-year-old was a member of the U18 AAA Tisdale Trojans and also played 12 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2012-13. Before moving to the Panthers in 2022, Jackson was an amateur scout for the Calgary Flames for four seasons. Les Jackson – Estevan Bruins Jackson is a senior advisor to Panthers' general manager Bill Zito. The Manning, Alta. product played 61 games with the then WCHL's Estevan Bruins in 1970-71, putting up 34 points and 99 penalty minutes. Know of any other Saskatchewan connections to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final? Email us at ckcknews@
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
The importance of Oilers' playoff healthy scratches, now and in the future
In the years leading up to this spring's playoff run, the Edmonton Oilers deployed several rookies in prominent roles. Stuart Skinner played in 12 playoff games during his rookie season (2022-23), Philip Broberg played in nine games that same spring. Inexperienced players like Ryan McLeod, Dylan Holloway, Klim Kostin and Vincent Desharnais also occupied important roster spots in recent postseasons. Advertisement Fans watching this year's Oilers in the playoffs may have noticed there are no rookies, no players who lack experience in the lineup. There are unproven talents available to the team, but most have been healthy scratches during the postseason. Why would the Oilers keep players like Matt Savoie, Noah Philp and Olivier Rodrigue around? The present, and the future. In the final game of the series against the Dallas Stars, Edmonton's list of scratches counted 14, compared to five for the home team. Here are the names, and the reason each is still with the big club: There are three 'future' talents in Matt Savoie, Noah Philp and Olivier Rodrigue. The chances these three players dress for a game in the Stanley Cup Final are close to zero, but they're with the big club, soaking in the excitement and intensity of a playoff run, and getting a taste of their own possible future. It might not seem like a big deal, but the experience may offer inspiration for all three men. What's more, the Oilers have superior options with more experience. So, the players who haven't been through the rigours of a playoff run get an up-close view of the sacrifice required, while the organization isn't forced to insert unready players into impossible situations. Throwing kids into the breach is not a formula for success. In the 2006 final versus the Carolina Hurricanes, Oilers coach Craig MacTavish entered the pivotal Game 7 with some difficult decisions to make. He went with youth on the blue line (Matt Greene over Marc-Andre Bergeron), a decision that offered more toughness and less chaos. A more experienced defenceman, with no chaos, would have been a welcome choice, but was not available. In the 2017 series against the Anaheim Ducks, coach Todd McLellan was forced to use youngsters Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse in higher-profile roles due to a devastating injury suffered by wily veteran Andrej Sekera. The Oilers had a pile of young defencemen who were scratched during the series, but only Griffin Reinhart saw action against Anaheim. Advertisement Not every young player stumbles in the playoffs. It's a risk most NHL coaches would rather not take. Coach Kris Knoblauch may be forced to deploy some of the healthy scratches during the series to come against Florida. Connor Brown is a lock, as soon as he's cleared to play. His importance to the team, at five-on-five and on special teams, makes him vital to team success. Jeff Skinner, who has played just two games this spring, would be the likely scratch when Brown is ready. Troy Stecher and Ty Emberson have played during the postseason. Their insertion into the lineup at any time during the final wouldn't come as a surprise. Most of the group that populates the healthy scratch list should be considered unlikely to play in the final. Savoie is here because he is the future. A high-end skill winger, Oilers fans will see him in the fall. His debut season, spent mostly in the AHL, gave every indication he was ready for NHL work on one of the top two lines. Philp is the one future player whose skills suggest there's an outside chance of NHL work in the final. He's a right-handed centre, can win faceoffs, plays with grit and can kill penalties. His insertion into the lineup would require more than one injury, as Derek Ryan has a similar skill set and plenty of NHL experience. Rodrigue played two NHL games this season and was the starter for Bakersfield much of 2024-25. He was the backup to Stuart Skinner when Calvin Pickard was out. It would be a massive ask for him to step into an NHL playoff game. It's possible Collin Delia, who has NHL experience, would be the next man up in case of injury. Based on Florida's performance during the playoffs this spring, it's appropriate to at least broach the subject of a goaltender injury. That said, chances are Rodrigue and Delia don't see NHL ice this spring. Advertisement The rest of the scratches are Zach Hyman (gone for the season) and AHL veterans who flourished in the minors while helping prospects develop. Their presence is an acknowledgement of that performance and serves as an extra layer of insurance against further injury. James Hamblin is an undersized left-handed centre who impacts the entire game when in Bakersfield. He's a fearsome forechecker, can PK and win some faceoffs, but he doesn't have NHL scoring ability. Josh Brown, Phil Kemp and Cam Dineen all delivered quality play for the Condors, with Brown and Dineen seeing limited NHL action during the regular season. Kemp has been NHL-ready for some time, but the organization has always enjoyed better options. His recall might be a thank you from management ahead of a pleasant goodbye. Kemp is a Group 6 free agent who would do well to find another NHL team more in need of his services. Among the men who didn't play the final contest against Dallas, Brown is the most likely to appear in the final. After that, all of the names listed above will need some luck to see playing time against the Panthers. The key point: Edmonton's scratch list is a damn good one. There's real NHL talent here. The secondary point: The future is here, but it is not in the lineup yet. The lessons of Greene and Reinhart have been learned, and general manager Stan Bowman has given Knoblauch and his staff more than enough veteran depth to hold back the water on unproven players. If you're disappointed in not seeing Savoie, Philp or Rodrigue, you won't have to wait long. All three should return and see more NHL time next season. The organization correctly estimated that reliance on the kids would be unwise this spring. Now is not their time. It will come. (Photo of Matt Savoie and Connor Brown: Andy Devlin / NHLI via Getty Images)
New York Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What Oilers prospect Matt Savoie accomplished in his first AHL season
The Edmonton Oilers are halfway to the 16 wins required to win the Stanley Cup. A large percentage of the team's most precious assets are pushing for the championship, and a large of future assets have been sent away in order to acquire immediate help for areas of need. The organization has been offloading high picks for years now, so there are very few blue-chip prospects down on the farm. The 2024-25 edition of the farm team didn't make the playoffs. Advertisement Based on those two facts, it would be easy to dismiss 2024-25 as a wasted season for the club. In fact, several players took a step forward this season. Those young prospects represent future Oilers, and one of those prospects could help as soon as this fall. In Matt Savoie, the Oilers have a plug-and-play right winger who could slide into the lineup this fall. He's entering the second year of an affordable entry deal, so he offers the team a potentially impressive value contract for the season to come. Here's why. In Bakersfield, Savoie stayed healthy, showed consistent production and put himself to succeed at the next level. Edmonton acquired Savoie in the summer of 2024, but he didn't get a real shot at making the Oilers' lineup during training camp in the fall. The Oilers were built to win, and the right-wing depth chart boasted several veterans (Zach Hyman, Viktor Arvidsson, Connor Brown and Corey Perry) who were guaranteed roster spots and playing time. When cracks did appear in Edmonton during the regular season, general manager Stan Bowman found workarounds (like claiming Kasperi Kapanen on waivers) and resisted a recall for Savoie. The team's top prospect thrived in California. The No. 9 pick in the 2022 draft had one of the best freshman seasons (age 20) in Condors history. In the 10 years Bakersfield has served as the Oilers' top minor-league affiliate, six notable prospect forwards have scored well at even strength in their age-20 seasons. Even-strength points per game. All numbers via AHL. Offence in the AHL is hard to come by at five-on-five, but Savoie showed well on a Condors team that had multiple injuries and constantly changing roster alignments. Scoring even-strength points at 20 does not guarantee NHL success. The top name on this list, Tyler Benson, lacked foot speed. That one thing had a severe on his NHL chances. Advertisement Savoie has plus speed, but size is often mentioned as a possible issue for the skill winger. An easy style, production and physical comparable for Savoie is former Condors right winger Kailer Yamamoto. The young winger had immediate AHL success despite playing in the league at a listed 153 pounds (and 5 feet 8 inches). He wore down quickly in the NHL, and often lost the puck due to a hard hit. Savoie is a smaller forward, but at 179 pounds (and one inch more in height), isn't quite a match for Yamamoto. Injury may be an issue for Savoie in the future, but he played in 66 AHL and four NHL games in 2024-25. He answered the bell as a rookie pro. Rookie AHL players, especially those who are 20, often take time to find their way offensively. The ability to outscore at even strength before Christmas is even more pronounced. Savoie took 20 games to find the range as an offensive contributor, but was useful early in outscoring and progressed into a strong possession forward as the year rolled along. All numbers via Savoie delivered in all aspects of the game as a rookie pro, but the outscoring at even strength is a remarkable total. When the rookie was off the ice in 2024-25, the Condors' even-strength goal share (132-140) was 48.5 percent. That's a solid rookie season in an area of the game generally associated with AHL veterans. Savoie was set up nicely by the Oilers organization as the Condors prepared for the regular season. Young wingers coming out of junior often have a hard time pushing play and getting into plus offensive situations. NHL teams usually have a veteran centre (often paid a premium) who can make things happen in the AHL for just this purpose. Management secured three such centres for 2024-25. The opening-night lineup featured Lane Pederson, James Hamblin and Noah Philp. Savoie's first point came in that first game (with Philp as his linemate) of the season, and his first goal came in the second game with Hamblin playing in the middle. Advertisement As the season wore along, the veteran centres suffered injuries or (in the case of Philp) were recalled to the NHL. The depth at a very important position grew thin, exposing the team's young skill wingers. Through it all, Savoie's scoring rates were consistent (as shown above), owing to his substantial talent and his ability to make skill plays at this level. It's worth noting he got some help from some veteran wingers (specifically Drake Caggiula). One of the reasons Savoie had success in the AHL this season? Foot speed. He was the fastest man in the league at the All-Star competition, and put those good wheels to work over the entire campaign. Savoie was a high draft pick, and top-10 selections often play rookie seasons in the NHL. The Oilers are not a building organization, so Savoie spent the year in the AHL. A player can stall in this kind of situation. It's happened before in Oilers history. Magnus Paajarvi (No. 10 in 2009) made the NHL at 19, played well as a rookie and then had a difficult time making plays with the puck in the years that followed. Recently retired Sam Gagner was the No. 6 selection in 2007, was rushed to the NHL that fall and had immediate offensive success. He didn't develop as hoped in the finer areas of the game, and his career peak may have been impacted by being rushed by Oilers management at the time. Savoie spent his time in the minors and flourished. He has graduated by any reasonable measure. Edmonton is where Savoie's future lies. ETA is this fall.
New York Times
16-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Is the Edmonton Oilers' AHL team equipped to help the NHL team soon?
Edmonton Oilers prospect Matt Savoie is NHL-ready. He's scoring at an impressive rate (41 points in 50 AHL games, tied for top total among age-20 forwards in the league this year) and has already played with the Oilers this season. High draft picks like Savoie are destined to fly over AHL cities, or (as in his case) play 50 games (give or take) in the minors. Advertisement The AHL is a league that develops players over years, several years, the most important being ages 20-22 (or a little older for college men). Players arrive with lots of offence and plenty to work on defensively. AHL coaches refine their game, knead the mistakes out and then send them on their way. Edmonton has been trading draft picks and young players for almost a decade now, and the Bakersfield Condors are perennially low on AHL players aged 20-24 who have an NHL future. In the days to come, general manager Stan Bowman will be adding free agents from the rich talent pools that include Canadian junior leagues, U.S. college programs and elite European clubs. He needs to be active. For now, the real prospects in the AHL are easy to spot because they are rare. Canadian junior grads are usually the largest population in this age group, as college kids and Europeans arrive in the AHL later. If a player can establish himself as a productive offensive and defensive player in the league at this age, he should go on to enjoy a solid NHL career. This year, Savoie is the only member of the club. His debut with the Condors has been so impressive it's reasonable to assume he will play in his final games at that level during the months of March and April. Savoie does not represent a typical AHL prospect, he's a gifted offensive prospect destined for an NHL skill line. This group has usually completed one minor league season and is matriculating toward an uncertain NHL future. It can work out brilliantly (Mike Kesselring started moving up the Condors depth chart at 21, and later emerged as a fine NHL defenceman) but the failure rate for players who spend their age-21 season entirely inside the AHL is significant. Among the current Condors, Matvey Petrov has fantastic skill (his shootouts are must-watch) but hasn't increased his scoring (0.26 points per game last year, 0.38 this season) to the point where he's pushing for an NHL chance. That will be next season if it comes. Advertisement He's the best of the group, as shutdown defender Max Wanner struggled with injury and was traded, while rugged centre Jayden Grube has stalled offensively and been on the ice for a mountain of goals-against this season. His strength is play away from the puck, so this season is especially disappointing. It's too soon to write any of these players off, but one can assume all three will take more than the three-year entry-level deal to develop enough to make the NHL. Historically, prospects who play at least some NHL games during entry-level deals (age 20-22 for CHL signings) are a tell for future success. Edmonton has two players in this age group, one of whom has played in the NHL. Roby Jarventie was acquired last summer from the Ottawa Senators but played just two games for the Condors before suffering an injury. Sadly, his once-promising career has been derailed by a series of injury issues. Recent published reports have Jarventie signing with Tappara in the Liiga for next season, signalling an exit from the Oilers organization. In December, Bowman made a trade with the Montreal Canadiens to acquire 2020 first-round selection Jacob Perreault. His career has meandered since he turned pro, but his early days in Bakersfield are encouraging. He's absolutely a skilled forward and gets around the ice well. He was traded twice in 2024, that's a down arrow for his professional career, but he has talent and is worth watching. If a player signs out of Canadian junior hockey and begins his pro career at 20, that player will need to have played at least some NHL games by age 23 in order to make the grade as a legit prospect. There are outliers, but NHL debuts past 23 usually involve one of two routes to the show: American college hockey or European leagues. Advertisement Even quality NHL players often take time to arrive in pro hockey due to a circuitous college route or finding their way through leagues in Russia, Sweden, Finland and other hockey countries. Fernando Pisani is an excellent example from Edmonton's past. Drafted on June 22, 1996, after finishing his AJHL career with the St. Albert Saints, he played the following four seasons for Providence College (Hockey-East). He started his pro career with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2000 and made his NHL debut on October 8, 2002 — six years and three months after he was drafted. Pisani was 25 years old (and nine months) on the night he made his NHL entrance. In this way, college players have a much larger window of opportunity to impress their drafting team. Pisani flew through the system quickly and became an integral part of the early 2000s Oilers who would eventually reach Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final. Pisani was central to that team's playoff success and mentored many younger pros in Hamilton and after arriving in Edmonton. When viewing a current college player like unsigned Luca Munzenberger, it's important to place his career progression into context. He has speed, a shutdown defensive style and has just completed his senior season with New Hampshire (Hockey-East). He's one of the players Edmonton may sign this spring (Munzenberger becomes a free agent after Aug. 15 of this year). His size and speed make him an attractive candidate. Bowman wasn't in the organization when Munzenberger was drafted, and the team's internal scouting reports may not warrant signing him. Considering how few selections the club has made in the top 100 over the last decade, though, Munzenberger might be an astute signing. He's 22, and the clock on his pro career hasn't started. His added years of maturity give him an advantage over a similar graduating CHL talent should he sign. Zach Hyman didn't play much in the third period against the New York Islanders on Friday night, leading to much recall speculation. Advertisement Most of it involved older players, men aged 30-plus. That kind of recall is rare in today's NHL, where the farm team normally employs veterans 25-29 as leaders and strong recalls. The Oilers are built differently because the draft model doesn't work when a team trades most of its picks for a decade. Here are Edmonton's legit recall options, very few representing the true definition of 'prospect' at this time. This list runs counter to modern NHL farm teams. Almost half are 30 or older. NHL recalls from the AHL are mostly young players like Savoie or mid-20s types like Phil Kemp or Cam Dineen. The list is also short on a legit goalie option in case one of Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard gets hurt in Edmonton. One area in which the Oilers are better than average? Quality AHL centres. All of James Hamblin, Noah Philp, Derek Ryan and Lane Pederson (who's injured) are top-drawer AHLers and worthy recalls. Not many are prospects, but the Oilers have a deep group of centres up and down the line. Bowman is shopping now for talent from college, Canadian juniors and Europe. He would do well to find the next Pisani, a player in his early 20s who could be a plug-and-play for Bakersfield in the fall. A goalie addition wouldn't go amiss, either. No matter who gets signed, Bowman needs to have more players in their prime (age 24-28) ready for recall and badly needs legit prospects who could (like Pisani 20 years ago) contribute to the NHL team in multiple areas upon recall. The Condors don't have a Pisani. That needs to change. (Photo of Matt Savoie: Perry Nelson / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oilers Need To Put Their Trust In Matt Savoie
It appears Matt Savoie will be a healthy scratch for the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. It's not surprising to see the Oilers furiously shuffling their lines as they search for their first win since before the 4 Nations break. It's also not uncommon to see a young player like Savoie spend some time in the press box. But Savoie's scratching is still curious and could indicate a worrying trend in the organization. We'll start with Savoie's play. He's only played three games with the Oilers, all demoralizing losses, but to these eyes he was one of the team's bright spots in all three games. Trending Oilers Articles Oilers Reveal Lines After Deflating Loss Oilers Goalie Upgrade Unlikely But Not An 'Absolute No' 3 Edmonton Oilers Who Might Get Traded Edmonton Oilers 2025 Trade Deadline Tracker Trump Makes Oilers Legend Wayne Gretzky A 'Free Agent' EDMONTON -- Controversy follows Donald Trump around -- just ask Wayne Gretzky. The 22-year-old looked extremely comfortable on Leon Draisaitl's wing, getting himself open for shots and carrying the puck with confidence while not shying away from puck battles along the boards. He picked up his first career point on Saturday in Philadelphia by winning one of those puck battles and finding Draisaitl in front with an assist. If Savoie is sitting, that means someone else is tagging in. He'll be replaced by Jeff Skinner, another smallish scoring winger, on Thursday, after Skinner was a surprise scratch on Tuesday in Tampa Bay. Skinner's scratch raised eyebrows, especially considering Viktor Arvidsson's subpar play since the break. For the second straight game, Arvidsson will stay in the lineup while a surging winger watches from the press box. WHAT A PASS‼️Matt Savoie collects his first career NHL point with a beautiful pass to Leon Draisaitl who buries his League-leading 41st of the season! 📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ — NHL (@NHL) February 22, 2025 That leads us to the bigger question: can the Oilers avoid a Dylan Holloway situation with Matt Savoie? Part of the reason Holloway and Philip Broberg signed their offer sheets in St. Louis over the summer was because they didn't see a path to more playing time in Edmonton. Both players struggled to stick in the lineup during their tenure with the Oilers, and neither got consistent playing time near the top of the lineup. Promises of future playing time only go so far. Now, the Oilers have the chance to make things right with Savoie. Their initial treatment of Savoie has been encouraging: let him tear up the AHL for a few months as he gets used to the pro game, then play him next to Leon Draisaitl, where his offensive talent can really shine. But now comes the most important, and most difficult, part: trusting him. Many NHL coaches have a bad habit of expecting perfection from their young players and playing gritty veterans over them. In dire need of secondary scoring and with almost no cap space, the Oilers can't afford not to trust Savoie. He's their only impact prospect and could be a real difference maker right now, let alone in the future with more experience. He won't get that experience in the press box, and he certainly won't score any goals from up there. It's time to let the kid play. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
