Oilers' Matt Savoie Leaves Morning Skate Early with Apparent Leg Injury

Edmonton Oilers fans held their breath Friday as rookie forward Matt Savoie left the team's optional morning skate at Rogers Place early, seemingly favoring his left leg. The young player's departure casts a shadow of uncertainty over his immediate future with the team, especially after scoring his first NHL goal the previous night.

The Oilers held a limited optional skate on Friday afternoon, with only 12 players participating. Savoie was among the players participating in the optional session, along with notable teammates like Zach Hyman, Mattias Janmark, and Connor McDavid.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch addressed the media after the skate and admitted he was only just informed of the situation. He stated that there was no immediate update on Savoie's condition and that it was too early to determine the severity of the issue. "It's too early to tell whether the issue was significant or something minor," Knoblauch told reporters.

The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate for Savoie, who is coming off a significant milestone in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Rangers. The 21-year-old scored his first NHL goal in that game, a moment that was somewhat overshadowed by the Oilers' late collapse. Savoie's goal came off a power play, deflecting Adam Henrique's shot into the net.

Savoie's journey to the NHL has been marked by high expectations since being drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2022. Traded to Edmonton in July 2024, for Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio, Savoie has been working to solidify his role with the Oilers. Before joining the Oilers, Savoie demonstrated his offensive capabilities with the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers' AHL affiliate, scoring 19 goals and 35 assists in 66 games.

Knoblauch has recently given Savoie opportunities to play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the top line, hoping to spark the team's offense. McDavid praised Savoie's work ethic and skating ability, expressing confidence that the offensive side of his game would come.

For now, the Oilers will await further evaluation to determine the extent of Savoie's injury and his availability for upcoming games as they continue their homestand at Rogers Place. The team and its fans are hoping for a positive prognosis, eager to see the young forward continue to develop and contribute to the Oilers' success.