Confirmed Trade: [BUF/EDM] Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio for Matt Savoie

[commie]

And that puts him as Buffalo's best faceoff guy right now.

Nobody on Buffalo that took more then 6 draws did better than 47.7%.

In fact.......and get this, cuz this is a bit scary......Buffalo's top faceoff guys last year were:

Okposo at 47.7%
Girgensons at 47.6%
Mitts at 47.1%
Krebs at 46.3%

Okposo is gone. Girgensons is gone. Mitts is gone. Krebs likely doesn't have an every-game role right now.

So, our best faceoff guys RIGHT NOW:

Tage at 43.3%
Cozens at 45.6%
Lafferty at 42.1%

But that poster stated that McLeod was the best FO % on the Oilers and its not even close. Which numbers never supports that.

Also, if you are counting on a soft 50.8% FO guy that rarely faces the other team's top FO guy to lead you to the promised land, then be prepared for disappointment.

Just because his 50.8% is so much better than what the Sabres have, doesn't mean he will improve or even maintain that percentage. A lot of the FO success comes in with matchups, which if McLeod is suppose to lead the Sabres and he faces the other team's top FO guy, then McLeod's % will drop. Also, a lot of FO success is part of a team success, how well his linemates are battling and retrieving the puck after the faceoff. Will that change for the Sabres this year vs last year? Or will the Sabres have the same team support as the Oilers this year to prop his FO % up?

Again, its all about managing expectations. McLeod is not and will never be some FO specialist.

Expect him to be a speedy winger that will take the puck and exit the zone and break into the offensive zone and be able to kill some PK, then you have a good chance of meeting expectations.

 

[Coffey]

I think Oilers fans are spoiled by having so much talent at Center.

We used to suffer the most back in the day.

 

[bossram]

sure, too early to call this a "fleecing" but I think it's a big overpay for Buffalo

McLeod is an average 3rd liner with elite speed but zero grit to his game...and I mean ZERO
maybe the trade wakes him up and he turns into a Cogliano-type player but these guys aren't hard to acquire

arguing semantics here, but Savoie is definitely a blue-chip prospect...over 2PPG in the Dub and almost a PPG in the AHL...his drawbacks are size and injury concerns
the number don't lie

"Bluechip", "elite", whatever you want to call it. I don't think Savoie is in the tier of prospects that are can't-miss impact NHL players, and I don't think he's particularly close.

Dominating junior as a D+2 on a loaded team is the minimum expectation for a former top-10 pick. And we also saw when the games and competition got tougher (playoffs, Mem Cup), his production fall off.

Sure, the number don't lie. And they don't indicate that Savoie is a can't-miss prospect. I've seen other posters mention him in the same breath as guys like Nylander or Keller as prospects, and this is simply false. Nylander had already dominated the SHL and AHL by that age and essentially cemented himself as a full-time NHL top-six player for his D+3. Keller in his D+2 was already a 1st line NHLer.

If Savoie hits, he's likely a small, soft, 2nd line offense-only winger in the NHL. Those kinds of assets don't hold much value anyway.

If some other team (falsely) believes Savoie is a blue-chip prospect, then EDM made a fantastic trade in that they hold a good trade chip they can flip for a different asset at the deadline to help their Cup chase.

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

I was hoping TBL could trade for McCleod for the 3rd line. Savoie will probably have huge year with McDavid and Draistil. Hyman was a 50 goal scorer last year.

 

[bossram]

They don’t need him to. They didn’t have room for McLeod to be a fast and skilled penalty killer who brought zero toughness or grit with a 2.1 million cap hit. Getting a top prospect for down the road is just gravy. I love McLeod, but the Oilers roster is better by his subtraction.

1. I get that part of the impetus for the deal is cap-related.

2. No, the Oilers are not better -Mcleod +Savoie. Mcleod had great defensive impacts and was a key part of a very valuable PK unit for EDM.

3. Savoie is not a "top prospect" by any reasonable definition.

I was hoping TBL could trade for McCleod for the 3rd line. Savoie will probably have huge year with McDavid and Draistil. Hyman was a 50 goal scorer last year.

No. He's not even going to be on the team next season. Might get a call-up at best.

 

[Czechboy]

We used to suffer the most back in the day.

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I won't lie.. I thought lander was going to be the absolute bomb for us!

 

[Ninety7]

1. I get that part of the impetus for the deal is cap-related.

2. No, the Oilers are not better -Mcleod +Savoie. Mcleod had great defensive impacts and was a key part of a very valuable PK unit for EDM.

3. Savoie is not a "top prospect" by any reasonable definition.


No. He's not even going to be on the team next season. Might get a call-up at best.

The cope is real and you’re not even a sabres fan.

That’s how you know it was a good deal.

By all means continue to argue that Savoie isn’t a blue chip prospect despite what the rest of the hockey world thinks. You seem to be smarter than everyone else.

And lol at telling oilers fans what makes their team better. I know you probably only watched 7 games of the playoffs when we eliminated you guys, but McLeod is not and was not an integral part of edmontons success.

 

[TommyDangles]

Based on what exactly?

I actually did watch quite a few Warriors games in the playoffs.

You've really done a 180 on the player the minute he was traded Tommy you're embarrassing

Based on watching every single game? Savoie was a gamechanger in the regular season. In the playoffs he looked completely different. Those 5 players were far more impactful & noticeable on the ice. What I wanted was Savoie to dominate. He didn't.

Go back and watch all the games. That's your homework.

I've done a 180 based on what? Seems like you make up narratives because you dislike when someone who has watched a ton of his games gives their take. You know the same thing Oilers fans have been doing with McLeod, but when someone does it for Savoie you get upset lol.

 

[bossram]

The cope is real and you’re not even a sabres fan.

That’s how you know it was a good deal.

By all means continue to argue that Savoie isn’t a blue chip prospect despite what the rest of the hockey world thinks. You seem to be smarter than everyone else.

And lol at telling oilers fans what makes their team better. I know you probably only watched 7 games of the playoffs when we eliminated you guys, but McLeod is not and was not an integral part of edmontons success.

I am certainly smarter than the people calling this a "fleece", that is for sure. And I can absolutely guarantee I watch far more hockey than you and am far more knowledgable about the NHL than you. You're telling on yourself here, you clearly only watch the Oilers. I follow the league as a whole.

I'm not a Sabres fan but I'm "coping". LMAO. I realize someone like you may not realize that it's possible to make an objective evaluation removed from fan bias, but it's very hard for you, I get it. The level of cope from someone like you is just sad.

Sure, if you follow dumb MSM people that don't know anything, they think Savoie is a "blue chip" prospect. If you follow people actually in the scouting space, you'd realize the vast consensus are not that enamoured with Savoie.

 

[La Bamba]

By the time this thread hits 2k posts, Savoie will be known as a reach at #9 overall and a bust while McLeod is a future Selke calibre centre that plays a heavy game lol

I love it

 

[Ninety7]

I am certainly smarter than the people calling this a "fleece", that is for sure. And I can absolutely guarantee I watch far more hockey than you and am far more knowledgable about the NHL than you. You're telling on yourself here, you clearly only watch the Oilers. I follow the league as a whole.

I'm not a Sabres fan but I'm "coping". LMAO. I realize someone like you may not realize that it's possible to make an objective evaluation removed from fan bias, but it's very hard for you, I get it. The level of cope from someone like you is just sad.

Sure, if you follow dumb MSM people that don't know anything, they think Savoie is a "blue chip" prospect. If you follow people actually in the scouting space, you'd realize the vast consensus are not that enamoured with Savoie.

Ah yes, the sign of an intelligent person is telling everybody how intelligent he really is.

All I needed to do was take two seconds to look through your post history. It’s all about Savoie. A lot of investment from someone who doesn’t have a horse in the race. Honestly sounds like someone’s a little salty.


I would love to know what your definition of a blue chip prospect is and who actually falls into that category. Please enlighten us laypeople

 

[ChaoticOrange]

1. I get that part of the impetus for the deal is cap-related.

2. No, the Oilers are not better -Mcleod +Savoie. Mcleod had great defensive impacts and was a key part of a very valuable PK unit for EDM.

3. Savoie is not a "top prospect" by any reasonable definition.


No. He's not even going to be on the team next season. Might get a call-up at best.

There isn’t a top 50 prospects ranking out there without Savoie on it. I haven’t seen many where he isnt top 25.

He’s objectively a top prospect.

 

[Pucklington]

I am certainly smarter than the people calling this a "fleece", that is for sure. And I can absolutely guarantee I watch far more hockey than you and am far more knowledgable about the NHL than you. You're telling on yourself here, you clearly only watch the Oilers. I follow the league as a whole.

I'm not a Sabres fan but I'm "coping". LMAO. I realize someone like you may not realize that it's possible to make an objective evaluation removed from fan bias, but it's very hard for you, I get it. The level of cope from someone like you is just sad.

Sure, if you follow dumb MSM people that don't know anything, they think Savoie is a "blue chip" prospect. If you follow people actually in the scouting space, you'd realize the vast consensus are not that enamoured with Savoie.

Starting an argument with in smarter than you, and I know more than you stopped working in early grade school.

 

[Goulet17]

What do you think the specific need is that McLeod will fill? Please don’t take that as sarcastic, I’m just wondering how he is perceived around the league and what role the Sabres will expect him to fill. I like your team and have a lot of time for the player. He is an addition by subtraction with what he brought to the table for the Oil with his cap hit but I wish him well.

I am not a Buffalo fan, just an interested observer, as they have accumulated an interesting mix of younger players and prospects. I also feel for their fan base, as that is a passionate sports market that has suffered far too long.

To your question, it seems apparent to me that Buffalo's GM offseason plan focused on increasing the speed, defensive ability, and grittiness of the bottom six. McCleod won't help in the grittiness department, at least not like Lafferty, Malenstyn, and perhaps Zucker, but he will help in the first two categories.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

He's 1000% was a top 5 player on that team, wtf are you even talking about?

Also, are you disagreeing with bensonthe Sabres reporters that stated Savoie most likely makes the team over Benson if the injury doesn't happen? I'm assuming you're more knowledgeable than them?

Benson is far and above a better player than Savoie - the Sabres themselves admitted such when they said scouting Savoie that benson was usually the best player on the ice in his d-2 ( this was stated last year when they drafted benson)

By the time this thread hits 2k posts, Savoie will be known as a reach at #9 overall and a bust while McLeod is a future Selke calibre centre that plays a heavy game lol

I love it

Well don’t laugh now but there is a very real discussion point by Buffalo media that the issue is not trading Savoie but that they should have drafted a different player at 9 that year - even the year after there were maby prospect folks that had him 3rd out of the 3 1sts we picked that year

Don’t believe me? Listen here…also being a great defensive 3c doesn’t always require playing a heavy game…

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

"Bluechip", "elite", whatever you want to call it. I don't think Savoie is in the tier of prospects that are can't-miss impact NHL players, and I don't think he's particularly close.

Dominating junior as a D+2 on a loaded team is the minimum expectation for a former top-10 pick. And we also saw when the games and competition got tougher (playoffs, Mem Cup), his production fall off.

Sure, the number don't lie. And they don't indicate that Savoie is a can't-miss prospect. I've seen other posters mention him in the same breath as guys like Nylander or Keller as prospects, and this is simply false. Nylander had already dominated the SHL and AHL by that age and essentially cemented himself as a full-time NHL top-six player for his D+3. Keller in his D+2 was already a 1st line NHLer.

If Savoie hits, he's likely a small, soft, 2nd line offense-only winger in the NHL. Those kinds of assets don't hold much value anyway.

If some other team (falsely) believes Savoie is a blue-chip prospect, then EDM made a fantastic trade in that they hold a good trade chip they can flip for a different asset at the deadline to help their Cup chase.

Lol you bring up poor showings at World juniors and Mem Cup but fail to mention he was almost a PPG in a small size of the AHL in his D+2 year

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

1. I get that part of the impetus for the deal is cap-related.

2. No, the Oilers are not better -Mcleod +Savoie. Mcleod had great defensive impacts and was a key part of a very valuable PK unit for EDM.

3. Savoie is not a "top prospect" by any reasonable definition.


No. He's not even going to be on the team next season. Might get a call-up at best.

The Oilers are absolutely better. NEITHER MCLeod nor Savoie are good enough to play a key role for them this year. We don’t care that Savoie isn’t ready for the NHL. Freeing up a 2.1 m cap hit on a soft winger and taking no cap hit back makes you better when you’re a cap ceiling team battling to win now.

 

[CupofOil]

You realize McLeod had 23 points in 57 games not playing with Drai, which would be 33 points in full season?

McLeod had a 50.8 faceoff %, which would be 1st on our team & it's not even close.

It's like you have no clue what you're even talking about.

I could care less what people who have never watched Savoie & just look at box scores think. Actual NHL circles think very differently.

So let me try to understand, you're telling Oiler fans that they have no clue what they're talking about when it comes to McLeod and you're using box scores to make an assessment yet in the same token say that others have no clue about Savoie because all they do is look at box scores? Does that about cover it? Uh huh

 

[Czechboy]

Overhated is a great forum word I’m going to steal

I agree but hating Ryan McLeod is just not right! He will be a fan fav in Buffalo just like he was in Edmonton. But yes.. stealing the term too.

In oilers terms

Perry and Kane are hated
Drai and bouch are overheated
McLeod is like a puppy that everyone loves lol

We have a few guys that are likeable.. Hyman, rnh, Skinner, formerly Campbell and Ekholm come to mind.

 

[Hasekperreault23]

You sure about that?

Yes

 

[zar]

Taking all the emotions out of these posts….

The Oilers and Sabres are in two completely different franchise stages.

The Oilers were in a position where they need players who are more likely to be playoff competitors while at the same time being Cap compliant. Shedding Cap was a major factor in this deal. The Oilers in their current phase will have a much easier time attracting the strong 4C/3W than most teams.

The Sabres are filled with strong prospects but need to make the jump into the playoffs… it’s been far too long.

McLeod is what he is…
• an NHL PLAYER
• a very good skater
• a very good PKer
• slightly above average defensively
• decent on zone exits
• less than spectacular on zone entries
• a perimeter player
• is not physical in anyway, avoids physicality at every opportunity
• he will be frustrating in the fact that, with his superior skating ability, he will always leave the fan wanting/expecting more
• below average finishing
• a bonafide 4C or 3W on a Cup contender or a 3C on a fringe playoff team
• average face off guy - let’s not forget that winning face offs is as much, or maybe even more, of a team skill than a center skill in todays NHL.

Savoie is still an unknown…
• a blue chip PROSPECT
• is still in a development stage
• is small compared to the average NHLer (stop arguing about the specifics, he is small)
• is highly skilled with the puck
• has an above average shot
• average skater
• injury prone
• is not physical
• not bottom 6 material, has to make it as a top 6
• average defensively, at best

Savoie has the higher ceiling but is still magic beans at this point. MacLeod is a bonafide NHLer who could even be a bonafide decent 3C for a Cup contender with a bit more experience. Savoie will have a better chance at succeeding in the NHL with the Oilers as a 2W due to their expected Cs.

All in all I think this trade slightly favors the Oilers but not as bad as some might think.

I would also like to remind Oiler fans that we were in the Sabres unenviable position of missing the playoffs multiple years in succession without nearly as strong of a prospect pool. I applaud the Sabres for making a deal to better their team today and try to get their team over the hump. Dealing a prospect, even possibly a bit of an overpayment to a team in the other Conference and not one you see as your future competition was not a terrible move.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Which was best on Edmonton and best on Buffalo and not even close that's why

if you wanna say faceoffs don't matter, that's fine. But he is average, by definition. Maybe he gets better. But being average on the worst team at faceoffs in the league does not make you suddenly good.

 

[TommyDangles]

So let me try to understand, you're telling Oiler fans that they have no clue what they're talking about when it comes to McLeod and you're using box scores to make an assessment yet in the same token say that others have no clue about Savoie because all they do is look at box scores? Does that about cover it? Uh huh

No I'm telling a Red Wings fan who brought up Rasmussen that he has no clue what he's talking about. Someone who implied McLeod only had 30 points because of Drai even though he was on pace for 30ish points w/ Perry & Foegele the year before. If McLeod was on Drai's wing for an entire season he'd have much more than 30 points like another Oilers fan pointed out.

Might actually want to read the comment I'm replying to.

 

[Skolman]

Based on watching every single game? Savoie was a gamechanger in the regular season. In the playoffs he looked completely different. Those 5 players were far more impactful & noticeable on the ice. What I wanted was Savoie to dominate. He didn't.

Go back and watch all the games. That's your homework.

I've done a 180 based on what? Seems like you make up narratives because you dislike when someone who has watched a ton of his games gives their take. You know the same thing Oilers fans have been doing with McLeod, but when someone does it for Savoie you get upset lol.

Because judging by your history, I really doubt that you watched every Moose Jaw playoff game.

I'm not sure exactly why you're talking in here like you're the smartest dude on these boards, but thanks tips. I'm definitely going to be discouraged on Savoie regardless of what anyone else says, because of Tommy's evaluation on the player.

you were awfully quiet on the player, until the trade happened, of course

 

[Skolman]

Yes

That McLeod was the best faceoff man in Edmonton?

Just curious, where are you getting those numbers from?

You might want to look again