Scott Wheeler's prospect rankings position Oilers' Savoie and Howard as support-tier players
The Athletic's consensus ranking places Matt Savoie at 5a and Isaac Howard at 5c — both projected as strong contributors to contending teams but not core pieces.
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Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard have landed in Scott Wheeler's new ranking of the NHL's top 145 under-23 prospects, with both projected as Tier 5 players — strong contributors to contending teams but not integral pieces.
Wheeler, The Athletic's prospect writer, ranked Savoie as "5a" (more likely to achieve that tier's ceiling) and Howard as "5c." Tier 5, per Wheeler's framework, includes "a top 150 player. Someone who would offer strong support to a contending or championship core, but wouldn't be an integral piece within it. A below-average top-line forward, a strong No. 2 defenseman, or an above average starter."
Wheeler wrote of Savoie: "Savoie has the speed, skill and work ethic to be an effective top-nine contributor… Some point to size and average IQ as potentially holding him back from taking that next step beyond a legit Support player, though."
On Howard: "Some wonder about his skating for his size. Others see a top-six-or-bust profile and wonder. This year will be critical for him. He needs to hold a top-six job — and there's one there for the taking."
Wheeler's list is designed to reflect consensus opinion among NHL scouts and managers, not his personal view. Notably, Corey Pronman, another Athletic prospect writer, did not include Savoie or Howard on his personal ranking of the top 156 under-23 players in the world — a list that drew significant criticism in mid-August. Pronman ranked Sam O'Reilly at 40th, Reid Schaefer at 83rd, and Zach Benson at 124th, while Wheeler projected Benson as a "3b all-star" player.
How do Savoie and Howard's projections compare to their own developmental timelines with Edmonton?
What specific steps would move either player from 'support tier' into a higher classification?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What tier did Scott Wheeler rank Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard?
Both Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard were ranked as Tier 5 players by Scott Wheeler, described as strong contributors to contending teams but not integral pieces. Savoie received a "5a" ranking (more likely to achieve that tier's ceiling) and Howard received a "5c" ranking.
What does Tier 5 mean in Wheeler's ranking framework?
Tier 5 includes a top 150 player who would offer strong support to a contending or championship core but wouldn't be integral to it — such as a below-average top-line forward, a strong number 2 defenseman, or an above-average starter.
What did Wheeler identify as potential limitations for Savoie?
Wheeler noted that some scouts point to Savoie's size and average IQ as potentially holding him back from stepping beyond a support-tier player, despite his speed, skill, and work ethic.
Where did Corey Pronman rank Sam O'Reilly, Reid Schaefer, and Zach Benson?
Corey Pronman ranked Sam O'Reilly at 40th, Reid Schaefer at 83rd, and Zach Benson at 124th on his personal ranking of the top 156 under-23 players in the world — notably excluding Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard from his list.
