Talk of these two since the turn of the year
Savoie’s Spark vs. Klapka’s Towering Presence
Staying true to a Battle of Alberta vibe
Size, Speed, and the Spectrum of NHL Potential Becoming Reality
The 2025-26 NHL season has delivered plenty of storylines for Alberta hockey fans, but few have been as intriguing as the parallel rises of two young forwards on opposite sides of the Battle of Alberta divide. On one end sits Matt Savoie of the Edmonton Oilers—a compact, lightning-quick center who embodies modern speed and skill.
On the other is Adam Klapka of the Calgary Flames—a towering 6-foot-8, 235-pound winger whose physical dominance recalls the graceful giants of hockey’s past. Since the calendar flipped to 2026, both have carved out meaningful roles, reminding us that talent comes in all shapes and sizes.
Matt Savoie: The Spry Youth Bringing Speed and Skill to Edmonton’s Top-Six Hopes
At just 22 years old and listed at 5-foot-10 and 179 pounds, Matt Savoie represents the prototype of today’s dynamic NHL forward. Born in St. Albert, Alberta, the former first-round pick (acquired by the Oilers in a trade from Buffalo) has transitioned from prospect hype to everyday contributor. In 74 games this season, Savoie has posted a solid rookie campaign: 14 goals, 17 assists for 31 points, plus a +3 rating, while averaging 14:26 of ice time.
(Source in part hockey-reference.com)
What stands out most is his elite skating and pace. Savoie excels with quick bursts that allow him to win races to loose pucks and create separation in the offensive zone. His first touch, puck handling, and in-stride wrister make him dangerous in tight spaces—traits that have earned him shifts on higher lines, including recent top-six looks alongside Edmonton’s star power. He’s added three power-play points and even two shorthanded goals, showing versatility in all situations. Recent hot streaks, like six points (including four goals) in eight games, have Oilers fans buzzing about his potential as a long-term playmaker and scorer.
Making the most of his compact frame, Savoie doesn’t shy away from battles. He competes hard along the walls and has shown the ability to slow the game down on a PK or exploding 5 on 5 with huge versatility. In a lineup built around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s speed and skill, Savoie fits seamlessly, and he's benefitted McDavid's play in the face of the missing Draisaitl. Big shoes to fill.
There is he is, every night in March, generating offense. His 113 shots on goal reflect an active, north-south style that pressures defenses and creates second-chance opportunities.
Savoie’s emergence sin 2026, and elevated play since the Olympic break, has been timely, to say the least. He has added much speed, almost McDavid pace, and youthful energy plus unforeseen secondary scoring at a moment when depth has been tested.
At his size and age, he has room to add strength without losing that explosive first step—the kind of growth that could see him evolve into a consistent 40-50 point threat.
In the salary-cap era, players like Savoie who combine speed, skill, and hockey sense at a bargain price are gold.
Turning to the surprising and unpredictable Adam Klapka:
A Modern Giant Evoking Glimmers of Beliveau, Ratelle, and Lemieux
Flip to the red side of Alberta, and you find a starkly different profile in Adam Klapka. The 25-year-old Czech winger stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 235 pounds—physical dimensions that immediately draw comparisons to the already mentioned hockey legends.
Those icons combined towering size with elegance, reach, and scoring touch. Klapka brings the size and physicality, with flashes of that same commanding presence on the ice. In the past few weeks he's shown a scoring touch, wracking up a total nearing 20 pts. That is solid back-6 numbers for an undrafted sophomore.
In 71 games this season, Klapka has recorded 6 goals and 10 assists for 16 points, while receiving 106 penalty minutes, 267 hits, and 46 blocked shots. He loves to throw his fists as well. Imagine a larger version less polished version of Gordie Howe.
Averaging just over 10 minutes per night, he operates primarily as a bottom-six energy player and physical deterrent. His game is built on intimidation and net-front presence: he wins battles in the corners, clears space for skilled linemates, and delivers crushing checks that shift momentum.
Since the turn of the year, Klapka has become a more consistent part of Calgary’s lineup, providing the kind of rugged play that rebuilding teams crave. He’s added a power-play goal here and there, showing that his reach and heavy shot can contribute offensively when opportunities arise. At 6'8", he looms over most opponents, using his frame to protect the puck and create screens that make life miserable for goalies and defensemen alike.
Unlike the finesse giants of old, Klapka’s impact is felt more through physical toll—hits that wear down opponents over 60 minutes and penalty-killing disruption. Yet there’s a hint of skill beneath the brawn; he’s shown the ability to make simple, effective plays and capitalize on rebound chances.
For a Flames team needing grit to complement their skill group, Klapka has emerged as a reliable fourth-liner who can occasionally tilt games with his sheer presence and tenacity
The contrast with Savoie couldn’t be sharper. Where Savoie flashes, explodes, and dazzles in open ice, Klapka plants himself like an immovable object, using size to control territory, and controlling the puck. As the baleful Flames season has wore on, Klapka performed as an emerging next level NHLer, and Calgary Flames fans have seen plenty of reason for optimism.
The contrast is hockey mystique. One is the embodiment of speed-driven, skill-based hockey; the other revives the old-school virtue of physical dominance in a league that rewards it when executed smartly. Big men playing a finesse game is spectacular athletics.
The Beauty of Hockey’s Diversity
What makes these two stories compelling is how they illustrate the breadth of NHL success. Savoie proves that elite skating, hands, and hockey IQ dismiss the size factor, always, including in today’s up-tempo game. Klapka reminds us that when paired with discipline and effort, exceptional size can dominate through sheer physicality and reach.
Since early 2026, both hockey players on Alberta ice have taken steps forward in their respective roles—Savoie gaining confidence in higher minutes and offense contributions for a contending Oilers squad, Klapka solidifying a spot as a physical anchor for the rebuilding Flames. Alberta fans get a front-row seat to this living contrast every time the teams meet.
In the end, hockey thrives on variety. Whether it’s agile youth buzzing the rink or a towering forward commanding the slot, both styles have a place on the path to the Stanley Cup. Savoie and Klapka highlight why the NHL remains endlessly fascinating. In the Battle of Alberta, these two names will rise to prominence over the next few seasons, if fans are lucky.
