Kris Knoblauch bets on Matt Savoie with Pacific race heating up

Tony Brar's preview sharpened the next step: Edmonton starts this homestand at 81 points, chasing Anaheim's 86. They have a perfect opening to make up some massive ground in the standings.

That's why this is more than a Saturday matinee. It's a roster-construction test, because Knoblauch has to decide whether the faster look beside McDavid stays in place.

Matthew Savoie is the pressure point. He's 22, he was drafted 9th overall in 2022 by the Buffalo Sabres, and his current cap hit is $886,667 through 2026-2027.

That matters because a cheap, young winger who can keep up with McDavid changes more than one line. It gives Edmonton a top-six solution without forcing a bench shuffle.

Anaheim isn't protecting first place with smoke and mirrors. The Ducks have 243 goals for, 246 against, and still sit on top of the Pacific with 86 points.

Edmonton has scored 254 goals and allowed 249, which tells you the Oilers still live in high-event hockey. Against a division leader, Knoblauch has to choose pace or comfort.

If Savoie stays up, Knoblauch is betting on controlled entries, support speed, and a winger who can extend offensive-zone time with McDavid.

If he drops Savoie down, Edmonton is admitting this game needs insulation more than upside. That's the sort of choice that tells you what the coach trusts for April.

Brar's hit from Rogers Place put the stakes in plain view:

The standings gap is real, and so is the opening.

For Edmonton, this isn't only about beating Anaheim. It's about whether Knoblauch sees Savoie as a one-game spark or a real answer beside Connor McDavid.