Matthew Savoie (ice hockey)

Matthew Savoie (born January 1, 2004) is a Canadian junior ice hockey centre for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) as a prospect to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL entry draft.

Playing career
Savoie applied for exceptional player status to enter the Western Hockey League (WHL) as a 15-year-old, but was turned down. The following week, he committed to play college ice hockey for the University of Denver. Despite his NCAA commitment, he was selected first overall in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft by the Winnipeg Ice.

In June 2019, Savoie broke his commitment to Denver and signed with the Ice. He began the year with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League, where he recorded 38 points in 34 games. He entered the WHL upon turning 16, and in 22 games recorded seven points, all assists.

In his first full WHL season in 2021–22, Savoie led all rookies in scoring with 90 points in 65 games, ranking seventh overall and third on the Ice. Following the season, he was drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He was subsequently signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the team on July 16, 2022.

At the end of the 2022–23 WHL season, Savoie made his professional debut with the Rochester Americans, American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Sabres, appearing in two playoff games against the Hershey Bears.

Savoie sustained an upper-body injury during rookie camp entering the 2023–24 season, and began the year on injured reserve. On October 22, 2023, he was assigned to the Americans on a conditioning loan, where he recorded five points in six games. He was recalled to the Sabres on November 6, 2023. Savoie made his NHL debut on November 10, 2023, recording less than four minutes of ice time. The next day, he was reassigned to the WHL's Wenatchee Wild (who had moved from Winnipeg that summer). On January 4, 2024, he was traded from Wenatchee to the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for seven draft picks, including two first-round picks. Following his Warriors debut, in which he had two goals and five points in a 7–2 victory over the Vancouver Giants, Savoie was named WHL player of the week for the week ending January 14, 2024.

On July 5, 2024, Savoie was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, in exchange for Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio.

Personal life
Savoie's older brother, Carter, was an Edmonton Oilers fourth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.