The Edmonton Oilers are injecting a fresh dose of youth into their lineup, preparing to debut a new forward trio that fans are already dubbing the latest incarnation of the "Kid Line." The team will feature Ike Howard, Quinn Hutson, and Matt Savoie together for Saturday's home game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Rogers Place.
A Trio of Young Talent
This new combination brings together three promising players, all under the age of 24. Matt Savoie, who just turned 22 on January 1, will make a notable positional shift to centre, a role he excelled in during his junior career in the WHL. He has recorded 7 goals and 13 points in 41 games with the Oilers this season.
Joining him are two recent recalls from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors. Ike Howard, 21, was just named the AHL Player of the Month for December, after an explosive stretch where he scored 8 goals and 16 points in just 11 games. Quinn Hutson, who turned 24 on New Year's Day, is fourth in AHL scoring and is the older brother of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson.
Historical Context and Current Experiment
The "Kid Line" moniker carries significant weight in Oilers history. The most famous and successful version featured Adam Graves, Martin Gelinas, and Joe Murphy on the team's last Stanley Cup champion in 1990. A later iteration in 2007-2008 included Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, and Robert Nilsson.
Coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged the experimental nature of the current group, particularly with Savoie's move to the middle. "There's some benefits to this line combination, and some negatives, maybe," Knoblauch stated. "We have to decide if the pros outweigh the cons as the game wears on."
Roster Moves and Implications
The creation of this line is part of broader roster adjustments. Winger Andrew Mangiapane, who practiced alongside Leon Draisaitl, may be a placeholder for the ill Vasily Podkolzin or could be scratched again as the Oilers reportedly explore trade options for him. The situation will become even more crowded when Kasperi Kapanen returns from LTIR (knee) next week.
Howard and Hutson arrive with momentum from their AHL success, where they played on a dominant line with German rookie Josh Samanski. Howard previously played 17 games for Edmonton, averaging 9:29 of ice time, before his mid-November assignment. Hutson scored his first NHL goal in Boston during a brief three-game call-up before the Christmas break.
The staying power of this new Kid Line remains to be seen, but its debut against the Flyers provides an exciting storyline and a glimpse into the Oilers' future as they continue to navigate the 2025-26 season.
