Edmonton Oilers Center Matt Savoie (Credit: Getty Images) The Edmonton Oilers are moving into a pivotal period of the season, and the choices made about the roster are getting more and more scrutinized. Among the most discussed recent news in the NHL is the development of rookie forward Matt Savoie, who has come up with a lacklustre display of offensive production ever since the Olympic break.Nevertheless, his good performances have led to the emergence of trade rumors in the NHL on whether Savoie would remain in the franchise. The time is also significant because the Oilers seek to cement their team to make a serious playoff run without jeopardizing the long-term growth and short-term competition.
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Savoie’s Hot Streak Could Change Everything
Edmonton Oilers’ Matt Savoie trade rumors gaining traction before the NHL playoffs
The new shape of Savoie has been difficult to miss. Competing with such high-grade players as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the 22-year-old has brought appropriate offensive results, which makes him one of the more productive team players in recent games. His more frequent ice time and position in the top-six forward team have obviously given him confidence and performance.However, this increase has been controversial as well. The Oilers may wish to play on the increased value of Savoie in a trade situation. Some analysts believe that this can be utilized by the Oilers in a trade scenario, particularly when the team is in need of defensive depth or reinforcement before the postseason.These rumors are also in context. The city of Edmonton has been accused in the past of its ineffective handling of young talent, and thus, this organization is wary of making the same mistakes. The fact that head coach Kris Knoblauch has been trusting Savoie more often may be an indication of a change in tactics–but does not totally rule out speculation.After all, the case of Savoie raises a larger issue of concern to the Oilers: does it make more sense to invest in a young forward who can bring substantial changes to a team, or achieve immediate performance by playing in the playoffs?With the NHL trade deadline conversation still reverberating, his name is still a name to consider in any given NHL trade speculations or late-season spectacles.