Q. What was it like for you watching that chaos unfold waiting to hear your name called?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: Yeah, it was definitely a bit of a hectic situation, never been through an experience like that before, but now to see it finally come full circle, it's truly a blessing. I'm super excited to be a part of the saber organization, and can't wait to get to work down there.
Q. What do you feel like right now? What are the emotions?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: Just excitement from me. I was a bit nervous coming into the day. It can be a lot of pressure at some times, but now that you get finally picked and you have a destination, I think you can really set your eyes on a goal and really start to get to work.
Q. Was there a lot of talk with them during the year, during the combine? What were your impressions of this organization and what they're trying to build?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: Yeah, I think it's definitely a first-class organization. They have a ton of good young players, good prospects, and as well good leadership, good veteran guys. I think they're definitely moving in the right direction, and I'm really happy to be joining it.
Q. From your meetings did you get a sense that maybe you could be a Sabre?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: Yeah, I think the meetings can be a bit tricky at times. They try not to give away too much, but you can definitely sense when a team likes you a little bit more than others. I think my meetings with Buffalo went really well, and to be here today drafted by them is really exciting.
Q. What was the impact that the Winnipeg Ice organization had on your development?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: Yeah, the Winnipeg Ice had a huge impact, going there at such a young age, getting to practice with 19- and 20-year-old guys, being a 15-year-old was so critical for my development, continuing to push myself, play against the best competition possible I think is really what shaped the player I am today.
Q. How excited are you to be in the same organization with Peyton Krebs?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: Yeah, I got a few games in with Krebsy when I was 15, roomed on the road together with him a couple times, so pretty familiar with him. Really ecstatic to reconnect with him and go down there and see him for sure.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
MATTHEW SAVOIE: He's a true pro. He always wants the best from his players, the mentality he brings to the rink every day. He's so dialed in, focused. I think it just wears off on guys to be the best possible version of themselves and really focus on their goals.
Q. During the pandemic going to the USHL, when you get back to Winnipeg, what was it like comparing where your game was at when you were first with Winnipeg and where you were at this season?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: Yeah, I think from a confidence standpoint it just went skyrocketed. I felt more comfortable with the puck on my stick, felt more comfortable taking checks, reading plays. I think just growing as a player and getting older as a player was huge for me, and I think that's what allowed me to have some success this year.
Q. When you look at the jump you made, do you surprise yourself?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: Yeah, growing up I was always a really offensive based player. Obviously that first year in Winnipeg was a big tough with the scheduling and everything, and only getting 22 games in, but I just took it as another way to keep improving, really put my head down and work, and I think I did a good job of that in the USHL. I thought that was a really good development year for me, and coming back to Winnipeg really had my eyes set on having a strong draft season, and I think I did that.
Q. Where do you stand right now with the shoulder?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: The recovery is fully done. Medically it's completely healed. Now it's just getting strength back in it, continuing to manage my workouts and making sure I'm not pushing it too hard too soon, but from a medical standpoint it's all good.
Q. (Indiscernible).
MATTHEW SAVOIE: Yeah, when I was ordering my suit my asked what I wanted in the inside. They gave me a couple options, and I just thought I wanted to pick one of the coolest looking ones. Went with the tiger one, and I decided to stick with it.
Q. Have you been back on the ice yet?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: Just briefly one or two times, just to get the legs back into it before camp here. But looking forward to really getting back into the bulk of skating in July here.
Q. Will you participate in camp next week?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: I think that's a conversation that'll be had with the management, but I'm looking forward to getting down to Buffalo for sure.
Q. Have you spent any time there?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: I was there for the combine in early June, but other than that, never really been to Buffalo or around the city. Excited to go explore and go check it out and see what it's like.
Q. Do you view yourself as a center or a wing? What are you most comfortable with?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: I think I leave that up to my coaches. I'm really comfortable playing both positions. The last four or five seasons I've flip-flopped consistently back and forth. I think versatility in that sense is one of my strengths.
Q. Did you play both last year?
MATTHEW SAVOIE: Yeah, I played center for probably the first half of the season and the second half of the season was rotating back and forth between center and wing.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports