BUFFALO, N.Y. — Matthew Savoie arrived in Buffalo on Monday, four days after he was drafted ninth overall by the Sabres in the 2022 NHL Draft. In a new environment, he's found something familiar: the forward is rooming with Peyton Krebs, his former Winnipeg Ice teammate and road trip roomie.

What You Need To Know

  • Savoie sustained a shoulder injury during the WHL playoffs
  • The forward avoided surgery but did not work out at the Combine
  • Savoie will skate at Hockey Canada's national junior selection camp next week

"The whole staff has treated me really well," Savoie said. "Getting to come down and see the facilities, getting the whole experience, all of it's been great."

Three years ago, 18-year-old Krebs called 15-year-old Savoie to convince the forward to join him in WHL.

"At that point, I was kind of deciding between going to the NCAA and taking the major junior route in Canada,” Savoie said. “Just wanted a little bit of insight with someone who has a little bit of experience in the league, got a little bit of insight with the coaching staff, the whole program that Winnipeg was running.”

Next, Krebs will show him the ropes of the Sabres franchise. Dylan Cozens has also taken the fellow Canadian under his wing after watching development camp together on Tuesday.

"When you have experienced guys that have played games in the NHL still being around the young guys, still going through training camp like this, it's definitely a good thing," Savoie said. "It's good to have the whole young corps together, building relationships with each other. I think him being here is really great for the organization."

Building relationships and connecting off-ice with coaches will be the focus on Savoie's camp as he is ultimately not going to skate with the team. Savoie avoided shoulder surgery after a WHL playoff injury this past season and did not work out at the Combine. While the prospect says he has regained full movement, general manager Kevyn Adams has emphasized the team's cautious approach regarding his return to contact skating.

"It's tough. I always want to be on the ice as much as I can, especially in a camp like this, just being drafted. It's some people's first chance to see me play," Savoie said. "Think I'm really close to being back but unfortunately it was just a little bit too soon."

Savoie does plan to skate at Hockey Canada's summer camp next week, where he was invited as part of the World Juniors roster.

What he didn't put a timeline was signing his entry-level-contract with the Sabres. Five of the eight draft picks before Savoie have already signed their deals with respective teams, and two of the remaining three are heading to the NCAA this fall.

"It's definitely a goal to sign my first NHL contract," Savoie said. "Whether that's this week or this summer or a little more down the road, that's going to be discussed, but I couldn't be more fortunate to be with this organization and I'm really looking forward to the future here."