Buffalo Sabres: The moment of truth has come for Matt Savoie

Matt Savoie will make his debut with the Buffalo Sabres tonight, and he has come a long way since those ill-fated games in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Just six months ago, Matt Savoie looked like he needed at least one more season in the WHL after he took part in two playoff games with the Rochester Americans. His experience wasn’t a complete disaster, but he looked like a far cry from what we had seen that season from other high-end prospects for the Buffalo Sabres like Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen.

While Savoie probably at least ranks below Kulich, the NHL-CHL Agreement gives the Sabres no choice but to recall the former. And tonight, barring some unforeseen announcement between now and 7:00 p.m., Matt Savoie will suit up and make his long-awaited NHL debut.

It has been a year of debuts for Sabres prospects, as Zach Benson and Ryan Johnson have already been given a taste of what life is like in the NHL with generally favorable results. Now, it’s Savoie’s turn to show Sabres fans that playing him tonight is the right decision.

2023 has been the Year of NHL Debuts for the Buffalo Sabres prospects

Going back to March 2023 when Devon Levi first signed and ultimately debuted, the future is now for the Sabres. And while Levi will most likely play the entire season in Buffalo, the jury remains out on Benson, Johnson, and Savoie – especially Benson and Savoie, since Jack Quinn will make his long-awaited return at some point in the next three months assuming he suffers no setbacks.

Johnson has been stellar in two games for a defensive rotation that has needed more effective play. So unless his performance dramatically declines, he will also be there for the long haul.

Benson and Savoie, if I were to guess, won’t see time with the Buffalo Sabres all season. With the IIHF World Juniors coming up, the Sabres may opt to not burn a year on their respective entry-level contracts following a maximum of nine-game stints, and they can spend the rest of the year in Wenatchee following the World Juniors.

Johnson, despite signing his ELC in May of this year, is older and physically more mature than Benson and Savoie. The defensive rotation is also in more demand of young talent than the forwards at this point, so once again, if Johnson stays, burning a year on his own ELC isn’t that big of a deal.

Source: Sabres prospect Matt Savoie to make NHL debut; Alex Tuch ‘questionable’ vs. Wild by Lance Lysowski, Buffalo News