While it might be considered hyperbole to claim the Edmonton Oilers are in disarray, there's no denying this is team currently headed in the wrong direction. Following Tuesday night's 6-2 embarrassment at home to the Anaheim Ducks, they have now lost six of their past seven games and are slipping down the standings in the Western Conference.
The need for some defensive help is painfully clearly, as evidenced by allowing a combined 33 goals in the last seven games. And yet as we now hurtle towards the Mar. 7 trade deadline, all the Oilers have done is bring in a forward who might not even be available until the playoffs begin.
The point is that there are a lot of Oilers fan right now, who are unhappy with the decisions being made of late by the front office. The latest example of this came on Wednesday, with the team confirming on social media that Matthew Savoie has been loaned to the Bakersfield Condors.
Why Matthew Savoie?
The initial reaction among fans, was to ask why it was Savoie who was being assigned to the AHL, with some wondering if he was being made a scapegoat for the 6-2 beating by the Ducks? Along these lines, the young prospect did produce no points and was tied for a team-worst -4 rating on the night.
However, you need to go deeper than this, to realise he wasn't as bad as it might sound, with Savoie only really at fault for one of the goals the Oilers allowed on the night. Plus, you can't put it all on him, particularly when he was part of a line with experienced pros like Viktor Arvidsson and a certain Leon Draisaitl.
In any event, Savoie had done just fine in his first three appearances for the Oilers after being called up and among other things recorded his first ever NHL point -- an assist -- and produced a 0 +/- rating. That coach Kris Knoblauch then made him a healthy scratch for two games, is not an indictment of the youngster whatsoever.
Oilers not unhappy with Matthew Savoie
Along these lines, Knoblauch was at pains to stress Savoie being loaned to the AHL on Wednesday was nothing to do with being unhappy with his play. As per Finn Marceau of The Hockey News, Koblauch said: "I thought he did do a lot of good things. It's unfortunate that we've played some of our worst games when he's played, but it's no indication of his play."
So again, the question has to be asked why Savoie is the one being sent down, especially when there are more deserving candidates? Well, there are actually a couple of reasons, both of which show there is some common sense attached to this move.
The first is that Savoie does not have to be placed on waivers prior to being assigned to the Condors, which would have been the risk with a more deserving candidate. And the second reason is simply that the addition of Trent Frederic meant the Oilers roster was full and with a space or two needed ahead of any further potential additions prior to Friday's trade deadline.
Interestingly enough in respect of Frederic, he could actually end up being placed on the Injured List given his current status, which would then free up another roster space. Irrespective, we feel confident in predicting that Oilers fans haven't seen the last of Savoie this season in Edmonton, with him certainly deserving of more opportunities.
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