Edmonton makes its position on Matt Savoie clear as reactions follow

Matthew Savoie's contract situation isn't rattling the Oilers front office, at least not publicly.

"I'm confident that's going to work itself out in time," GM Stan Bowman said when asked about a Savoie extension.

That's a calm answer for a young player who's about to matter a lot more to this roster than his current profile suggests.

Savoie posted 37 points in 82 games last season, adding 5 power play goals for an Edmonton team that finished 41-30-11.

He's currently day-to-day and expected to be out until at least October 20, a timeline that complicates how quickly he can build chemistry with new head coach Mike Babcock.

Babcock has already made clear this season is about structure and accountability, telling reporters he wants Edmonton to be the most prepared team in the league.

That kind of demanding approach usually means less patience for young players still finding consistency, and Savoie's missed time at the start doesn't help his case early.

Why this extension timing actually matters for Savoie's role

Bowman's comfort with letting this play out suggests Edmonton sees Savoie as part of the long-term picture regardless of what camp looks like in the short term.

But security on paper doesn't guarantee minutes on the ice, especially under a coach known for holding players accountable game by game.

Savoie carries an $886,667 cap hit right now, and any extension talk would need to reflect real production, not just potential, given how tight Edmonton's cap situation already is.

Whether Babcock gives him real top-nine minutes once healthy, or eases him in cautiously given the missed time, will say a lot about how much trust this coaching staff extends to younger players.

Vasily Podkolzin's own breakout last season, with 19 goals in a similar aggressive style, shows there's a path for young forwards to earn real minutes under this coaching staff.

Savoie's extension may work itself out the way Bowman expects. Whether his ice time follows the same smooth path is a completely separate question that training camp will start answering soon.

Also read on Markerzone.com:
Toronto Maple Leafs just dropped 8 players and one name is turning heads