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There is no denying that the Flyers are in need of goal scorer that isn’t afraid to take a beating in order to make the play, and Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher has been on record saying that he would love to add a top six player. However, he did say it’s not realistic to add this need through trade or free agency due to the flat-cap, but there is one way to do it, add this piece through the draft.
When a goal scorer comes to mind that has wheels, I immediately think of Red Savage a young 17-year-old that stands at 5’11 and weighs 174 pounds. He has one of the coolest names in the draft, and is exactly the type of player Fletcher would love to add at the NHL Draft in July. Savage could change the overall landscape of this team dramatically. One addition, yes the addition of Savage, a young man who knows and is not afraid to shoot the puck, one that doesn’t hesitate to get to the greasy areas to score a goal. That’s what Savage provides, and believe it he’s an excellent two-way player.
“I’m not the flashiest star in the draft, but I’m more of a meat and potatoes, lead by example type player,” Savage said to me. “My game is just as important as any other guy on the team. I think I’m a really big piece to my team.”– Red Savage said to Jamey Baskow
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This young player will shoot the puck from anywhere on the ice, and battle for goals. Savage is highly accurate with his shots, and is an excellent penalty killer. He is a Swiss Army Knife with his ability to get back on the defensive side of the puck, and shutdown opponents rushes. Savage is a remarkable two-way player that possesses a high hockey IQ, “I model my game after Ryan O’ Reilly,” Savage said. “He is a great leader that leads by example and a workaholic. My coaches made a sheet of who we want to model our game after in the beginning of the season. I took a ton of video and wrote a lot of notes on him.”
Savage is a good board battler, and this may come from his dad Brian Savage, whom played for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Phoenix Coyotes, and the Philadelphia Flyers. His dad also won a Silver Medal in 1994 at the olympics for Team Canada. He has quite the story of who taught him how to skate:
“My dad played for 12 years, mostly the Canadiens, then got traded to the Coyotes and that’s when I was born,” Savage said. “Then he went to St. Louis, and Philly for two years. My family and I love Phoenix, it’s golf weather all year round (Laughing). It’s not that big of a hockey market, and only a hand full of rinks.”
“To be able to say I was born and raised in Arizona is pretty cool. Skating at the ice den of the Coyotes was neat. My mom taught me how to skate because my dad was always out of town. It’s pretty cool I have a mom that cares for me.”– Red Savage said to Jamey Baskow on 4-21-21
The Flyers could use this lethal Center/Left Winger…like ASAP (As soon as possible). Savage would be a dream for any franchise. He is a puck possession machine that has extremely good hands, and has acute vision of the ice. Savage can make something out of nothing in tight spaces, and that is an area of need for the Flyers, “My dad has been a big factor when asked who defined him into the hockey player he is today,” Savage said. He then continues, “All my coaches leading up to where I am now, Ryan Barnes coached me for a year. Steve Potvin who is the Head Coach of the Tucson Road Runners with the Coyotes. He was my head coach when I was young in Phoenix, and he is a big factor in the player I am today.”
Savage continues, “Playing for NTDP is a gift just to be here. I wouldn’t change anything these past two years. The coaching staff has been great. They gave me a role to fill, and Dan Muse has been great.”
He has committed to Miami University-Ohio, as Savage begins a new career in the Fall. His brother Ryan currently plays hockey there, as well, as Savage said it will be the first time that he and his brother play organized hockey together, ” Miami has tons of family strings,” says Savage. “My dad played there, and my brother Ryan plays there. He is three years older than me. It was that awkward age gap to where we never played with each other. I have been looking forward to this my whole life. I’m really excited to turn this program into a winning culture.”
For those that do not know Savage maybe he can make them believers with this statement, “I ended up my year last January with a shoulder injury. I focused more on the physical game, and I read a lot of books about leadership. It really helped me into the player I am now.”
Savage finishes, “I think my game stems off my work ethic and professionalism. I really focus on recovery and making my body stronger for games., and that stems in the offseason. I focus on skating and adding muscle to my size.”
He could help immensely on the Power Play/Penalty Kill, and Flyers fans get used to hearing his name. Savage is climbing the draft charts for this once third round projection. I can really see him being selected in the first to early second round of the NHL Draft, and he has the ability in being a top six Center in the NHL if he continues to hone in on his offensive abilities. He will Captain the US team at the U18 World’s that begins tonight in a preliminary matchup against Russia, be sure to follow him and others for Team USA.
