Matt Savoie names longest serving current Oiler as his hockey hero
It was revealed that last September Oilers Matt Savoie told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski that Ryan Nugent Hopkins was his hockey hero.
This was brought to light after interim general manager Jeff Jackson stunned the hockey world by trading Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Savoie. His comments or during the NHLPA rookie showcase.
«I actually skated with Nugent-Hopkins this summer. To see him firsthand was really good for me,» he said. «Kind of a smaller guy from the West who really improved his game.»
«He was a 104-point guy for a reason. When you see him in summer skates, you can tell that. He's finishing everything. He's making good passes. He knows where everyone is on the ice,» Savoie said. «Just to see that firsthand and kind of take things from his game was huge.»
Savoie will get a chance to play with some of the best players in the world as the Oilers have been perennial playoff contenders where the Buffalo Sabres continue to be at the bottom of the NHL standings.
The 20-year-old center was drafted in the 2022 entry draft, first round, 9th overall. He played most of his time between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Wenatchee Wild of the Western Hockey League. He played 34 games between both teams, scoring 30 goals, 41 assists for 71 points.
His playoff stat line was impressive as he played nineteen games, scoring ten goals with 14 assists for 24 points and won the WHL Championship this year.
Savoie will be at Oilers training camp in September and if all goes well, he could find himself alongside his childhood hero in the opening games of the new season.
Source: Oilers Nation
Before being traded to Oilers, Matt Savoie named Ryan Nugent-Hopkins his hockey hero
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