The real reason the Oilers are waiting to extend Matt Savoie
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Matt Savoie's contract delay has nothing to do with the Edmonton Oilers being tight against the salary cap. They are not.
Savoie has one season left on an entry-level deal carrying an $886,666 cap hit, and that figure does not change whether he signs an extension today or next June.
Any new money would land in 2027-28.
That is the piece missing from Gerry Johannson's appearance on Oilers Now, where Savoie's agent pointed to Edmonton sitting in win-now mode.
“We haven't, only because I think Edmonton's in a unique position where they're in a win-now mode.
Matt really likes it here, and we'd love him to stay here. I know he would. I think in talking to Stan that will come. But as we know, Edmonton is pretty focused on this year. I think Matt is patient and really enjoys it here and did a good job last year, so we're excited to see what he can do. I'm sure we'll get down to that sooner than later.”
- Gerry Johannson
Matt really likes it here, and we'd love him to stay here. I know he would. I think in talking to Stan that will come. But as we know, Edmonton is pretty focused on this year. I think Matt is patient and really enjoys it here and did a good job last year, so we're excited to see what he can do. I'm sure we'll get down to that sooner than later.”
- Gerry Johannson
Win-now mode is real in Edmonton, but it does not touch this season's ledger for Savoie at all. It touches the one after.
Bowman is guarding a blank page
Stan Bowman moved Darnell Nurse and the entire $9.25 million to the San Jose Sharks, then chose not to spend the roughly $7.25 million it freed up.
He called in-season flexibility a valuable asset and said he would be comfortable starting the year holding money.
That is a general manager saving room for a midseason addition, not one avoiding a small raise for a 22-year-old winger.
The real squeeze arrives in 2027
Connor McDavid's two-year, $12.5 million contract runs through 2027-28, which makes him eligible to sign his next extension on July 1, 2027.
Savoie's first real payday would be signed into that identical window.
Bowman is not refusing to pay Savoie, he is refusing to write anything into a summer he cannot price yet. Waiting on McDavid's number is the whole calculation.
The cost is obvious. Savoie put up 18 goals and 37 points in 82 games while leading all Oilers forwards with more than 132 penalty-kill minutes, and 19 of those points came in his final 24 outings.
A 25-goal season under Mike Babcock resets his price entirely, and Edmonton already watched Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway leave on St. Louis offer sheets.
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