Matthew Savoie's next contract is turning into a real storyline for the Oilers, and training camp hasn't even opened yet.
The Mug NHL reported Tuesday that Edmonton could look to get Savoie locked up sooner than later, aiming to avoid an offer sheet situation next summer.
That urgency comes with a complication. Savoie is day-to-day right now, and he isn't expected back before Oct. 20 at the earliest.
Savoie finished last season with 37 points on 18 goals and 19 assists across 82 games for Edmonton.
He also chipped in five power play goals, two shorthanded goals and five game-winning goals, a well-rounded line for a young forward still climbing the lineup.
His most recent stretch was quieter. Savoie posted five points over his last 10 games, with only one coming on the power play.
Edmonton closed out last season 6-2-2 over its final 10 games and finished 41-30-11 for 93 points, capping it off with a 6-1 win over the Canucks.
Why the Oilers can't afford to wait until next summer
Savoie carries a cap hit of just $886,667 on his current deal, making him one of the cheapest useful forwards on Edmonton's roster.
General manager Stan Bowman is staring at a real decision here. Does he wait for a full healthy season to set the price, or pay now while the number is still team-friendly?
Locking up a 22-year-old on term right now is a little like buying a stock before earnings season. You're betting the price only goes up from here.
An offer sheet next summer hands the leverage to a rival club, not Edmonton. Getting ahead of it now keeps Bowman in control of the term and the number.
So does the front office move while Savoie is rehabbing, or does it wait until he's back on the ice to see what it's actually paying for? That's the bet Edmonton has to make.
The undisclosed injury only adds to the wrinkle. An extension push during a recovery window is a different conversation than one with a healthy, scoring winger sitting across the table.
-
Whether Edmonton gets a deal done before Savoie laces up again is the thing worth watching heading into training camp.
Should the Oilers lock up Matthew Savoie now, injury and all, instead of waiting until next summer?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Jets get their answer: Connor Hellebuyck has made his final decision
