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

[is the answer jesus]

I would surmise there's a combination of reasons why Savoie was chosen as the trade chip in this. Buffalo doesn't lack for high end prospect trade chips, and they did need to rebuild that bottom 6 for sure, as they don't lack for offensive power in their roster top 6, even with Skinner gone.

If McLeod fulfills his role here in Buffalo, and Savoie achieves his ceiling, it looks to be a win/win trade for both organizations.

If Savoie achieves his ceiling this is a bad trade for Buffalo barring some miraculous upswing in McLeod's trajectory as a player. That said I don't have to like the deal to see why Adams did it. He wanted to remake the middle 6 and McLeod is decent, youngish, and relatively cost controlled for multiple seasons. I think the reality is a little of both sides in this situation. It seems that Buffalo may have soured a bit on Savoie and Adams just couldn't maneuver through both the trade and free agent market to get a player at a more reasonable cost.

 

[nabob]

That's okay. I think a major part of their success in Edmonton may have been coaching, but McLeod's speed should make him a PK specialist. I really like Greenway on PK because of that wingspin.

I think the biggest part was how the players had ridiculous chemistry and knew exactly where each other would be leaving little to no gaps in their coverage.


McLeod should be a very good PKer, but he seems to struggle with thinking quick on his skates in the moment at times. Often when asking “who’s the idiot who flubbed that clearing attempt” the answer was McLeod. Maybe he grows out of that and does become a really good PKer. All the physical tools are there.

 

[McDoused]

I can't believe this thread has over 2,000 posts.

I might as well contribute not that I'm really bringing anything new to the conversation.

First off, Ryan brings levity to a team. He has a big smile and enjoys the game of hockey. I think that's a great attribute to have in a teammate. He's a good character guy and I'm sure Buffalo fans will love him regardless of what he brings on the ice.

Having said that he will frustrate you. It's already been brought up that he's one of if not the fastest player in the league. Oiler fans joke about him being the "cardio king" because he can literally skate from one city to another without scoring a goal. You see the combination and natural ability and it frustrates you that he can't put it together. Maybe he figures it all out but he's only scored more than 15 goals once in his career and that was his draft year in the OHL. He's a perimeter player that doesn't engage in puck battles or play physically. He does a great job driving a line though and carrying a puck. If he can be a better playmaker I think his production will increase exponentially. He can make the odd bone head pass that leads to a goal but overall he can be a very good shutdown center. He will show stretches where he looks like a top 6 guy and then disappears offensively. I wish McLeod the best but I don't see him improving a whole lot more than what he already is.

From and Oilers perspective they already won this trade. They needed to clear cap and even though we didn't have to move McLeod the writing was on the wall. He's been replaced by Henrique and was a cap casualty. The value they got back was incredible. Getting 3 years of a player on an ELC that's almost ready to step into the lineup helps replenish our depth and prospect pool. You can provably find another Ryan McLeod shutdown center in free agency but you can't just go out and get guys with the pedigree of Savoie.

The only way this trade ends up being a win for Buffalo is if Savoie busts. It definitely comes across as a desperate panic type move for Buffalo with the pressure of trying to make the playoffs. The homerun potential for Savoie. I get that their is a premium on centers in the NHL but it's a clear overpayment. As others have pointed out, overpaying to plug a whole doesn't make this trade a win for Buffalo.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

If you had a gun to your head and someone said place Savoie anywhere in your guys top nine, do you think he’s scoring more or less than 30 points next season?

As a full time winger to one of McDavid, Drai, or Henrique and playing the full season, absolutely he hits 30pts.

 

[Mr Positive]

As a full time winger to one of McDavid, Drai, or Henrique and playing the full season, absolutely he hits 30pts.

I think this is where the trade pans out for both sides. There was serious bust danger with Savoie having to compete for opportunity with so many prospects in Buffalo. Even if Savoie is a lesser prospect than some of those guys, he is walking into a situation where he will likely get opportunity because the prospect pool is thin and the org wants to encourage a youth movement. If things go well it can grow his confidence and things can snowball in your right direction quickly, considering the surrounding cast he'd have here

And yes, McLeod has a great opportunity in Buffalo too, especially if Savoie could have just busted for them

 

[Zman5778]

You can provably find another Ryan McLeod shutdown center in free agency

Absolutely you can. There's always a couple in free agency every year.

Problem is, they all (for the most part) want to sign with contenders. Buffalo ain't that right now......so we need to trade for guys like McLeod. And we need to convince the other GM to give us guys like McLeod. Hence the overpay.

 

[Morpheus]

If Yamamoto can make the NHL, so can this dude.
View attachment 893881

 

[Steve91]

69 pages... nice.

 

[McDoused]

Absolutely you can. There's always a couple in free agency every year.

Problem is, they all (for the most part) want to sign with contenders. Buffalo ain't that right now......so we need to trade for guys like McLeod. And we need to convince the other GM to give us guys like McLeod. Hence the overpay.

Agreed that Buffalo needed to overpay. However usually non-playoff teams overpay by giving free agents term or money. You see all the unused cap and that's why this trade is so frustrating. Buffalo failed to overpay a center in free agency and then they gave up one of their best assets to address a need via trade.

 

[KCC]

Watch savoie make the oilers team and end up with more points than McLeod. Lol.

 

[Mattilaus]

Watch savoie make the oilers team and end up with more points than McLeod. Lol.

He probably will if he plays with McD or Drai. Buffalo didn't get McLeod thinking he would out produce savoie.

 

[commie]

Absolutely you can. There's always a couple in free agency every year.

Problem is, they all (for the most part) want to sign with contenders. Buffalo ain't that right now......so we need to trade for guys like McLeod. And we need to convince the other GM to give us guys like McLeod. Hence the overpay.

McLeod is due for some decent pay raise in couple of years. He has 1 year left on his current deal at 2.1. With 1 year left of RFA with arbitration rights.
His QO will be around 3 million, with arbitration can likely go upwards of 4-4.5 million.
Then he is an UFA, what will he get in 2 years? 4-4.5 million?
Is that the best use of an asset and cap space?
For EdM definitely not and Savoie allows them to reset their asset to an ELC.
For Buffalo, maybe they want to allocate that type of cap space to a middling bottom 6 player.

 

[elchud]

McLeod is due for some decent pay raise in couple of years. He has 1 year left on his current deal at 2.1. With 1 year left of RFA with arbitration rights.
His QO will be around 3 million, with arbitration can likely go upwards of 4-4.5 million.
Then he is an UFA, what will he get in 2 years? 4-4.5 million?
Is that the best use of an asset and cap space?
For EdM definitely not and Savoie allows them to reset their asset to an ELC.
For Buffalo, maybe they want to allocate that type of cap space to a middling bottom 6 player.

If McLeod performs to the ability where he can command $4.5 a year...Buffalo did well in this trade.

 

[KCC]

Finally saw the McLeod interview about the trade. Dude sounded gutted. You could tell he was saying all the right things but you knew he was upset. He had zero sense of excitement in his voice and we all know the type of smiling personality he is. This def wasn’t easy for him. He knows he’s going from a cup contender and possible cup winner the next few years to missing the playoffs. But he’s young so lot’s of time to hopefully get back there.

 

[Mez]

Finally saw the McLeod interview about the trade. Dude sounded gutted. You could tell he was saying all the right things but you knew he was upset. He had zero sense of excitement in his voice and we all know the type of smiling personality he is. This def wasn’t easy for him. He knows he’s going from a cup contender and possible cup winner the next few years to missing the playoffs. But he’s young so lot’s of time to hopefully get back there.

From game 7, 2 goals away from winning it all....to a team in a decade of darkness....yah that has to be hard.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

McLeod is due for some decent pay raise in couple of years. He has 1 year left on his current deal at 2.1. With 1 year left of RFA with arbitration rights.
His QO will be around 3 million, with arbitration can likely go upwards of 4-4.5 million.
Then he is an UFA, what will he get in 2 years? 4-4.5 million?
Is that the best use of an asset and cap space?
For EdM definitely not and Savoie allows them to reset their asset to an ELC.
For Buffalo, maybe they want to allocate that type of cap space to a middling bottom 6 player.

Edmonton’s top center is going to cost more than buffalos top 2 combined for the next 6 yrs so yeah they can afford to pay a 3c 4.5 mil

Also I think QO is a 10% raise so it will only be 2.3 mil or so…

Correction it’s actually only 2.1 mil

Qualifying Offer Requirements:

Most recent salary Required Qualifying Offer %

$750K to $999K 105% to maximum $1.0M

$1.0M or more - Contract signed before July 2020 100%

$1.0M or more - contract signed after July 2020 The lesser of: a) 100% of most recent salary b) 120% of Cap Hit

A Qualifying Offer cannot actually be accepted before July 1. If a Qualifying Offer is not accepted, it expires by July 15 unless extended in writing by the team.

 

[Mattilaus]

Finally saw the McLeod interview about the trade. Dude sounded gutted. You could tell he was saying all the right things but you knew he was upset. He had zero sense of excitement in his voice and we all know the type of smiling personality he is. This def wasn’t easy for him. He knows he’s going from a cup contender and possible cup winner the next few years to missing the playoffs. But he’s young so lot’s of time to hopefully get back there.

People need to see and remember his reaction when they spout stuff like "lol Buffalo could have just gotten a player like this in free agency!"

No.....no we can't, because most players won't sign here.

 

[Kelevra]

Finally saw the McLeod interview about the trade. Dude sounded gutted. You could tell he was saying all the right things but you knew he was upset. He had zero sense of excitement in his voice and we all know the type of smiling personality he is. This def wasn’t easy for him. He knows he’s going from a cup contender and possible cup winner the next few years to missing the playoffs. But he’s young so lot’s of time to hopefully get back there.

Well he can blame himself, if he was willing to get into the fray regularly he wouldn't have been traded. Maybe this will be a wake up call for him.

 

[bleedgreen]

Well he can blame himself, if he was willing to get into the fray regularly he wouldn't have been traded. Maybe this will be a wake up call for him.

Cmon. He’s a bottom six player for the Oilers and makes a decent amount of coin to do so, the Oilers get a good prospect they don’t have to pay yet in return.

He wasn’t traded as punishment and even if he was a mildly different players this was a likely consequence of their cap situation.

 

[Dr Awesome]

Erat was 32 when he was traded and was already declining. Even if McLeod is as bad as all the Oilers fans now say he is, he should continue to play at his current level for many more

McLeod isn’t that bad don’t listen to those fans. Is he frustrating at times? You bet!

 

[Mattilaus]

McLeod isn’t that bad don’t listen to those fans. Is he frustrating at times? You bet!

I mean, I agree savoie is an overpay. I just don't think the deal is that outlandish when you take circumstances into account. Edmonton did a good job of exploiting a desperate team with few other options. Buffalo did what they needed to to fill holes. The point of stockpiling all those prospects is to have currency to trade and fill holes later. The clear winner of the deal is Edmonton, I just also see the logic from Buffalo's side.

 

[Dr Awesome]

I mean, I agree savoie is an overpay. I just don't think the deal is that outlandish when you take circumstances into account. Edmonton did a good job of exploiting a desperate team with few other options. Buffalo did what they needed to to fill holes. The point of stockpiling all those prospects is to have currency to trade and fill holes later. The clear winner of the deal is Edmonton, I just also see the logic from Buffalo's side.

Thief trade for me was love/hate as I know Mcleod has more to give. I believe he will grow into better player getting more ice time in Buffalo.

 

[HolyGhost]

I like this thread. IN a few years this thread will be a discussion about nothing. I think Buffalo won this trade

 

[Bryanbryoil]

He probably will if he plays with McD or Drai. Buffalo didn't get McLeod thinking he would out produce savoie.

Yeah they'll likely be in different roles on their respective teams. If McLeod can be close to an even player while playing more of a defensive role, improve the PK and chip in 25ish points, he will be a valuable player for Buffalo in terms of righting their ship as a team.

For Savoie I am not expecting him to make the team, but hope that he does well enough to be considered our 1st call-up and then step in full time in the '25-26 season if he hasn't by then.

 

[Hasekperreault23]

I mean, I agree savoie is an overpay. I just don't think the deal is that outlandish when you take circumstances into account. Edmonton did a good job of exploiting a desperate team with few other options. Buffalo did what they needed to to fill holes. The point of stockpiling all those prospects is to have currency to trade and fill holes later. The clear winner of the deal is Edmonton, I just also see the logic from Buffalo's side.

Maybe he should play some NHL games first and stay healthy which he couldn't do in junior.I mean one thing I have learned is temper expectations on propects.I bet everyone on this board can name 10 prospects who were can't miss but missed.Buffalo has a ton of prospects similar to Savoie plus our young players currently in Buffalo. Good trade for both teams both got what they wanted