Carter Savoie finished practice with the University of Denver Wednesday and got a phone call from the Edmonton Oilers.
“It was five minutes after I got off the ice here,” said Savoie, who was told he’d been picked in the fourth round, 100th overall by the Oilers.
The 18-yard-old native of Sherwood Park is coming off a big offensive season with the Crusaders in the AJHL. He had 53 goals and 99 points in 54 games in 2019/20.
“I’m an offensive-minded player. I like the puck on my stick,” Savoie said. “I like to shoot the puck a lot. I think I have a good release.”
Savoie, listed at five foot nine and 192 pounds, is hoping his off-season work helps him in the NCAA.
“The big thing for me this summer was working on my first couple steps, getting my speed up. I think I did a lot of that this summer. I feel a lot faster this year than I did last year with Sherwood Park,” said Savoie.
With the 126th pick, the Oilers nabbed Tyler Tullio, a right winger from the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. He had 66 points in 62 games last season. After being picked, Tullio spoke to Oilers winger Zack Kassian.
“I’ve been training with him for the last two-and-a-half years now,” Tullio said. “I’ve been working out with him five days a week and skating with him three days a week as well.”
At five-ten and 165 pounds, Tullio knows he has to bulk up now that he’s made the NHL.
“Just overall strength and size. Coming from the OHL to the NHL, it’s really a big step,” said Tullio.
“I know my work ethic is there. I know my grit and that kind of stuff is there.”
The Oilers had the 100th and 126th picks after making a trade with San Jose Wednesday morning. The Oilers sent the Sharks their third-round pick, 76th overall.
The Oilers used the 138th overall pick on Russian left winger Maksim Berezkin, who checks in a six-two and 200 pounds. He has one assist in seven games this season for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv in the KHL.
In the sixth round, 169th overall, the Oilers drafted Swedish centre Filip Engaras. He plays for the University of New Hampshire where he had 15 points in 25 games last season. Engaras, 21, had to sit out the 2018/19 season, an NCAA penalty for playing games in a pro league in Sweden.
“I just kept grinding, practicing. Not playing in the games was tough,” Engaras said. “I would describe myself as a two-way centre. I’m working on my game to be more productive, contribute more in the offensive end.”
Finally, the Oilers grabbed Swedish right winger Jeremias Lindewall in the seventh round, 200th overall.
It was the first time in team history the Oilers didn’t draft a defenceman.
“Throughout our organization, we have to add depth up front,” said director of amateur scoring Tyler Wright “We had clusters of players, and they just happened to be forwards. We had a couple of D in mind, and they went.”
Next up is NHL free agency, which begins at 10 a.m. MT on Friday.