Edmonton Oilers need to start playing Savoie and Howard a lot more

The Edmonton Oilers need to start giving rookies Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie more playing time.

It’s been another slow start to the season for the Oilers, going 3-3-1 through the first seven games. Throughout that time, the team has had its moments, but has often put up flat and disconnected performances where they look downright uninspired.

The offence has struggled to score goals at the right moments, and it has cost them multiple wins midway through October. However, despite all that, there have been a few bright spots in the forward group in the play of Howard and Savoie.

Both players are coming off a great showing against the Ottawa Senators. Howard scored his first NHL goal, while Savoie won a critical faceoff in OT that set up Jake Walman’s game-winner.

That’s one he’ll remember forever! 🚨

Isaac Howard has his first NHL goal! pic.twitter.com/XDgIahk4Nk

— NHL (@NHL) October 22, 2025

They were two of the best players on the ice in the victory, yet Howard played a team-low 10:42 on the night, while Savoie was limited to just 12:44 of five-on-five ice time. Neither player has been given much runway in the top-six group, either, despite all the struggles the team has had scoring.

Instead, head coach Kris Knoblauch has gone to more veteran, but not necessarily offensive-oriented, players like Trent Frederic, Vasily Podkolzin, and Kasperi Kapanen. This is likely due to wanting each rookie to ease into the NHL rather than biting off more than they can chew right away, but so far, they’ve looked more than capable of an elevated role.

Savoie has proven to be an effective two-way player for the Oilers early on this season. His defensive play has been superb so far, and it’s even earned him a regular role on the penalty kill as well. Offensively, the goals haven’t quite come for the St. Albert native, but he has had at least one or two good looks on net in just about every game so far.

He’s a dynamic forward who looks comfortable playing in the NHL and could offer much more playing on the wing with either of Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. At the very least, he’s worth a bit of a look. The worst-case scenario is that he struggles, and you move him back down into a third-line role.

Howard has had some more growing pains, but the talent is evident. The reigning Hobey Baker winner is confident with the puck, has a blistering shot, and has some great offensive instincts. Yes, there have been a few issues adjusting to the speed of the game, but he has an explosive toolset that could thrive in the right environment.

Playing him 10 minutes a night on the fourth line won’t do much to bring out his strengths. His one goal came after he got out of the penalty box and was on a line with McDavid and Draisaitl. In total, he has spent a measly 5:13 with either one of those two star players.

Nobody is saying you have to glue Howard there for the remainder of the season, but you need to at least see if it works. He’s a rookie, but he has shown to have some killer offensive tools that could help bust this team out of a goalscoring slump.

It’s nice to have veterans with NHL experience that you can plug and play in the top-six, but to not even try to do the same with Savoie and Howard would be a mistake. Especially when players like Podkolzin and Kapanen are more suited for bottom-six roles anyway.