Savoie played on the top line with McDavid earlier this season, but is currently enjoying his best stretch playing alongside Leon Draisaitl, getting back to the feeling of being one of his team’s offensive leaders after coming off a highly productive junior career and making a strong first impression at the pro level.
Playing with the game’s two top players is one of the many adjustments he’s made to get his game to a spot where he can really gain more traction.
“It’s an adjustment, for sure,” Savoie said. “It’s a privilege to play with guys at that level that can make a difference each time they’re out there, and they affect the game in a way that I’ve never played with a player. They possess it and affect the game in all three zones. They’re such threats that the other teams key on them so much, so just continuing to learn to play with them and get more comfortable in that role.”
Overall, the St. Albert product is looking much more assured in his process of becoming a capable all-around contributor in the NHL for his hometown team, having been helped by the confidence he’s received from his teammates and coaches, who’ve helped him stay the course and follow the right path.
“I just have a lot of trust in my game to do the right thing,” Savoie said. “I think there’s a lot of reassurance from the coaching staff and my teammates that you’re doing the right things, and you’re just getting some bad bounces.”
“It’s a big part of it, earning the trust of our coaching staff, and them having faith that I’m going to go out there and do the right job. I’m still building that relationship, so it’s been really good so far, and I’m looking to build it even more.”
