Edmonton Oilers analyst Mark Spector has sparked some debate with his latest projected lineup for the 2025-26 season ahead of training camp opening this week. In his latest piece for Sportsnet, Spector left highly touted forward Matthew Savoie off the main roster, slotting him as the team’s 14th forward behind a group of established veterans.
The prediction comes as a surprise given Savoie’s reputation as Edmonton’s top prospect and his strong play at the rookie series earlier this month.
Savoie, drafted ninth overall in 2022 and acquired by the Oilers in a trade last offseason, has been on a steady upward trajectory. Last year he posted 54 points in 66 games for Bakersfield in the AHL while also appearing in four games with Edmonton and collecting his first NHL point.
At the rookie showcase, Savoie stood out with his speed and puck handling which drew attention as one of the most dynamic players of the series. It was assumed that performance would lock him into at least a third-line role which makes Savoie’s omission from Spector’s lineup particularly jarring.
The analyst, however, explained that Edmonton’s coaching staff may lean on experience when it comes to final roster decisions.
“In two games between the Oilers rookies and the Calgary Flames rookies, Savoie stood out, while Howard did not,” Spector noted praising the young forward’s AHL experience and improvement.
But in his projected lines, he placed veterans such as Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark and Curtis Lazar ahead of Savoie, leaving him alongside Noah Philip in the reserve category. His prediction seems to favor stability over upside, but it comes at the cost of sidelining a prospect many believe is ready for the NHL challenge.
Oilers’ dilemma of choosing between development and risk
The backlash to Spector’s projection is actually more of a recurring theme in Edmonton: the tension between relying on veterans and trusting youth. Fans have pointed to the handling of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg in recent seasons as evidence that the Oilers’ cautious approach can hold prospects back rather than accelerate their growth.
I’m very unsure how you can be paid to write about hockey. Yet you make lines like these. To have Henrique on third is just and then to have Janmark in the lineup and playing centre over Philp
— Madi-Stu Skinners Nutrionist 🍔🍕🍰 (@Madi39) September 15, 2025
Not having Philip and Savoie in your lineup projections is actual terrorism https://t.co/wzu9J5HatY pic.twitter.com/Q7TQUfQc3V
For many, Savoie’s skill set of elite skating, playmaking creativity and offensive instincts fills a hole in the Oilers’ lineup that journeymen cannot.
Still, the case against Savoie is not without merit. At 5’9” and 179 pounds, he lacks the physical edge that Edmonton often values in its depth forwards and questions remain about his ability to consistently finish chances at the NHL level.
The Oilers may prefer the reliability of proven veterans as they push for a Stanley Cup run. Yet it can be argued that this short-term safety could once again cost the organization in the long term robbing a player of valuable NHL development time.
What makes this debate especially sharp is timing. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in their prime, the Oilers’ championship window is open now. The inclusion of a dynamic young forward like Savoie could raise the team’s ceiling while another season of overcautious roster management risks repeating the same development missteps.