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

[KeyserSoze81]

Look I have no dog in this fight, but Sabres fans bragging that McLeod has been a good middle-6 center for them after they traded Savoie for him and as they're the 4th worst team in hockey seems a little tone deaf to me.

"A man lost in the desert must take such water as he is offered, no matter who it comes from."

We have a bunch of poorly motivated morons throughout the lineup. I am less concerned about being tone deaf and a lot more worried about my sanity for still following this dogshit franchise. Having a couple players who have an IQ above room temperature is nice. Let us have a nice thing.

 

[PettersonHughes]

Outsider fan here, just glad Buffalo is giving him a chance and that he's running with it (y'all deserve some W's after Eichel, ROR, Reinhart all leaving and doing better). If nothing else, he won me my week yesterday in fantasy with his 4 point game . Congrats from your expansion cousins!

 

[MS]

I agree with what you say, but it all comes down to playoffs at the end of the day. Mcleod really struggled when the going got tough, especially in the cup final.

It's great to play well when your shooting percentage is 22% on a Sabres team that is miles away from contention and has been for a while. Different thing to do it in the playoffs when there is no space, the whistles are away and the pressure is on.

I thought McLeod was one of the best Oilers in the playoffs in 2022 and 2023, though. And his struggles in 2024 were only offensively - he was absolutely incredible on the PK and wasn't on the ice for a single PPGA in the entire playoffs despite being one of the first guys over the boards every time.

Replacing McLeod/Holloway/Foegele with the geriatric Skinner/Arvidsson/Henrique crowd has been a disaster for Edmonton.

McLeod is a good player and Edmonton would have been a hell of a lot better off keeping him over any of those old guys. And Buffalo is a hell of a lot better off having him.

 

[CowbellConray]

Also arbitration eligible, coming off a 'show-me' deal, and the Sabres have been playing him 20 mins per game for the last 2 months. He's going to get the bag.

I'd be shocked if he got over 5M per year. I'd think he gets 4 years, 4.5M (Yegor Sharagovich got 5.5 last year with 31 goals). I have no issue with that type of money for Mcleod who plays all situations, is good at the line, and honestly has even more potential then what he is currently showing.

Yes he shoots 21% this year, but he is playing 35% o-zone starts, and 44% o-zone at ES. He isn't even getting good deployment, but is still producing at a 55 point pace.

4 years, 4.5M, get it done and lock him up.

 

[Old Boys Club]

I thought McLeod was one of the best Oilers in the playoffs in 2022 and 2023, though. And his struggles in 2024 were only offensively - he was absolutely incredible on the PK and wasn't on the ice for a single PPGA in the entire playoffs despite being one of the first guys over the boards every time.

Replacing McLeod/Holloway/Foegele with the geriatric Skinner/Arvidsson/Henrique crowd has been a disaster for Edmonton.

McLeod is a good player and Edmonton would have been a hell of a lot better off keeping him over any of those old guys. And Buffalo is a hell of a lot better off having him.

I'd disagree that he was one of the better players in 21-22 or 22-23, unless you completely ignore McDrai, RNH, Hyman, Bouchard, Kane (21-22), Ekholm (22-23). I wouldn't even classify his performance as one of the best of the depth players.

His playoffs in 21-22 was on par with Yamamoto - edge to Yamamoto. 22-23 was the McDrai show, with Bouchard and Ekholm being second best. Kostin was better than McLeod that playoffs, I'd argue Yamamoto as well as he scored the series winner against the Kings in the first round after S. Skinner let them back into the game with his stick breaking.

23-24 he was good on PK, but the true PK wizards were Brown and Janmark. Roughly same PK time (or more) than McLeod and outscored their opponents 3-1 on the PK all playoffs. Saying his struggles were 'only offensively' downplays a few key mistakes he had - namely a massive unforced turnover in G7 against the Canucks which let them into the game and they almost tied it. Oilers were relying on him and Foegele to provide secondary scoring on the 3rd line, which they could not do. Foegele put up more respectable numbers, but those came from playing with Draisaitl later on in the playoffs. McLeod had 4 goals in 24 games last playoffs - I think 2 were empty nets and 2 came as 5th or 6th goals in blowouts.

 

[Satanphonehome]

Is it really the position of most Oilers fans in this thread that Ryan McLeod is now, always was and always will be the player he was in last year's playoffs?

And that this year's Oilers team is better off dressing guys like Podkolzin, Skinner, Perry, Janmark, Brown, Henrique, and Arvidsson?

Dude got an opportunity and seized it. In his 4th full season, and once he crossed the 200-game mark. Right about when many players break out.

Trades don't have to have winners and losers, and it's OK to still think Savoie will be the better player. But that doesn't change the fact McLeod is proving to be better than most of us thought he was and would almost certainly help Edmonton right now.

The minimalizing of his play upthread sounds like so much cope.

 

[McFlyingV]

I thought McLeod was one of the best Oilers in the playoffs in 2022 and 2023, though. And his struggles in 2024 were only offensively - he was absolutely incredible on the PK and wasn't on the ice for a single PPGA in the entire playoffs despite being one of the first guys over the boards every time.

Replacing McLeod/Holloway/Foegele with the geriatric Skinner/Arvidsson/Henrique crowd has been a disaster for Edmonton.

McLeod is a good player and Edmonton would have been a hell of a lot better off keeping him over any of those old guys. And Buffalo is a hell of a lot better off having him.

The bolded is just a bizarre take. You think McLeod was one of the best Oilers in the 2022 and 2023 playoffs when you had performances like McDavid's, Draisaitl's, Bouchard's, Kane's, Hyman's to name a few.

His struggles in 2024 were more than offensively. He was a turnover machine and actually almost lost them game 7 against Vancouver with a terrible turnover in a 3-0 game late in the 3rd.

McLeod is a good regular season player, and that really never has been a question. He's also a good penalty killer because he's good at limiting zone entries and can get in lanes quick with his skating. But lets not act like McLeod performed great in the playoffs for the Oilers, and it's obvious why they cut ties with him. The soft perimeter play and the fact he'll be making 4M+ on his next contract more than likely. Obviously Arvidsson hasn't covered that bet at the same cap hit, but I really don't think they wanted to commit to this player long-term on a higher salary after watching 3 mediocre to bad playoff performances in a row.

 

[McFlyingV]

Is it really the position of most Oilers fans in this thread that Ryan McLeod is now, always was and always will be the player he was in last year's playoffs?

And that this year's Oilers team is better off dressing guys like Podkolzin, Skinner, Perry, Janmark, Brown, Henrique, and Arvidsson?

Dude got an opportunity and seized it. In his 4th full season, and once he crossed the 200-game mark. Right about when many players break out.

Trades don't have to have winners and losers, and it's OK to still think Savoie will be the better player. But that doesn't change the fact McLeod is proving to be better than most of us thought he was and would almost certainly help Edmonton right now.

The minimalizing of his play upthread sounds like so much cope.

I don't think it's one playoffs. It's 3 years of mediocre to bad playoff performances, and his style of play that most were fine with parting ways, especially with him due a raise next season. Obviously some of the guys you've mentioned haven't been great this season, but most of them were good in last year's playoffs so until they show otherwise I guess we won't really know. What we do know is McLeod has yet to show he can be a good 3rd liner in the playoffs.

Lets not act like McLeod didn't get plenty of opportunity in Edmonton. He got to play with Draisaitl a decent bit on the wing (the only time he produced in the playoffs). He had Foegele, a good middle 6 winger stapled to him at all times, and he got 2nd PP time (albeit limited because of Edmonton's top unit dominating).

I think most Oilers fans thought McLeod was capable of what he's doing now in a top 6 centre role, which obviously he would have never been able to play in Edmonton. But McLeod hasn't changed anything to prove he can contribute as a 3C in the playoffs which is what Edmonton needed him to do.

 

[nickdawg95]

very happy with this trade i bet savoie will look good next year on EDM Too ! excited to see what he brings. with that being said Mcleod is good defensively good at faceoffs skates fast and can chip in here and there on offence. if he can consistently give the sabres 35-45 points a year im stoked on that. Great young 3c pickup

 

[Satanphonehome]

I don't think it's one playoffs. It's 3 years of mediocre to bad playoff performances, and his style of play that most were fine with parting ways, especially with him due a raise next season. Obviously some of the guys you've mentioned haven't been great this season, but most of them were good in last year's playoffs so until they show otherwise I guess we won't really know. What we do know is McLeod has yet to show he can be a good 3rd liner in the playoffs.

Lets not act like McLeod didn't get plenty of opportunity in Edmonton. He got to play with Draisaitl a decent bit on the wing (the only time he produced in the playoffs). He had Foegele, a good middle 6 winger stapled to him at all times, and he got 2nd PP time (albeit limited because of Edmonton's top unit dominating).

I think most Oilers fans thought McLeod was capable of what he's doing now in a top 6 centre role, which obviously he would have never been able to play in Edmonton. But McLeod hasn't changed anything to prove he can contribute as a 3C in the playoffs which is what Edmonton needed him to do.

So, despite his improved play this regular season, you think he’s not likely to have been any better this coming playoffs than previous playoffs?

His age and experience is not a factor, then or now, and you think the team is better off with most or all of its current bottom 6(ish)?

 

[McFlyingV]

So, despite his improved play this regular season, you think he’s not likely to have been any better this coming playoffs than previous playoffs?

His age and experience is not a factor, then or now, and you think the team is better off with most or all of its current bottom 6(ish)?

Has his play improved or has he just been given more opportunity as a top 6 centre, which he would have never been able to get in Edmonton?

He was a good player in the regular season last year too, and had excellent underlying numbers.

I don't know if they're better off with their current bottom 6, but the majority of those players were more impactful in last year's playoffs than he was. Lets not act like it was his first experience of playoff hockey. it was his 4th post season.

 

[Satanphonehome]

Has his play improved or has he just been given more opportunity as a top 6 centre, which he would have never been able to get in Edmonton?

He was a good player in the regular season last year too, and had excellent underlying numbers.

I don't know if they're better off with their current bottom 6, but the majority of those players were more impactful in last year's playoffs than he was. Lets not act like it was his first experience of playoff hockey. it was his 4th post season.

His improved production is not a function of being given a top 6 role. He's been Buffalo's 3C most of the year. 2C basically only happened briefly — when Thompson was hurt, and since Cozens was dealt/Norris and Kulich got injured.

He has not been getting PP time, and his playing time with the Sabres best offensive forwards - Peterka, Tuch and Thompson - has been secondary at best. His most common linemates are Greenway and Zucker. He’s played with Lafferty and Malenstyn as much as he has Tuch and Peterka.

And let’s not pretend his offensive production prior to this year is anything close to what he put up in Edmonton. He has 5 more goals and 12 more points in 15 fewer games. He might end up a 50-point scorer. Also with excellent underlying numbers, only on a much inferior team.

Seems clear your mind’s made up, but to me, sometimes a puck is just a puck: the most obvious conclusion should be that he’s become a better player than you thought he was.

 

[Satanphonehome]

Sorry, double post

 

[Oilslick941611]

It also boils down to opportunity.

McLeod, Broberg, and Holloway all got bigger roles and more responsibility after being traded. They were put into positions to succeed and were given a fairly long leash.

And they all paid off. I think it’s fair to say that there’s a chance they don’t develop with the Oilers and needed a change of scenery, but when all of them instantly get better when they leave… it’s a sign that they didn’t get the proper support.

I maintained this opinion from the summer.

McLeod isn’t getting this opportunity in Edmonton if he wasn’t traded.

 

[Breakers]

damn 85 pages

 

[Fourier]

McLeod's problem with the Oilers is that with any real success he would have priced himself off the team, or at least that would have been the case prior to the announced huge jump in the cap. The fact that he is arbitration eligible would have given him all the cards. Based on a similar year to what he is having this year the Oiler could have been facing a $4.5-5M arbitration award. (Though it is unlikely he puts up similar numbers in Edmonton). That would have been crippling so they may well have not even qualified him under the previous cap levels. They already went down that route with Yamamoto and Puljujarvi, both of whom were looking at getting paid more than they were worth to the team. McLeod is clearly better, but the outcome may well have been the same.

Most of us liked McLeod, but getting Savoie on a three year ELC seemed like an excellent gamble at the time and for my money still does. Savoie looked very good up with the big club. He's still a little raw but there is an excellent chance that he provides the team with some cheap skill next year.

 

[McFlyingV]

His improved production is not a function of being given a top 6 role. He's been Buffalo's 3C most of the year. 2C basically only happened briefly — when Thompson was hurt, and since Cozens was dealt/Norris and Kulich got injured.

He has not been getting PP time, and his playing time with the Sabres best offensive forwards - Peterka, Tuch and Thompson - has been secondary at best. His most common linemates are Greenway and Zucker. He’s played with Lafferty and Malenstyn as much as he has Tuch and Peterka.

And let’s not pretend his offensive production prior to this year is anything close to what he put up in Edmonton. He has 5 more goals and 12 more points in 15 fewer games. He might end up a 50-point scorer. Also with excellent underlying numbers, only on a much inferior team.

Seems clear your mind’s made up, but to me, sometimes a puck is just a puck: the most obvious conclusion should be that he’s become a better player than you thought he was.

I mean Zucker is still arguably a 2nd line winger. But even looking at his usage he's getting a lot of linemates outside of Zucker and Greenway who account for 36% and 24% of his total 5v5 minutes, respectively. His usage is definitely different than in Edmonton. He's 5th for Buffalo forwards in 5v5 time on ice per game (he was 8th on Edmonton last year).

Maybe there's a bit of an uptick in his production, but I honestly expected him to produce 40-50 points last season in the regular season so this isn't overly surprising to me. It doesn't change my outlook on his ability come playoff time.

 

[voyageur]

Ryan Mc Leod was the best player on the ice for Buffalo yesterday against Winnipeg. I'm sure the Oilers would be better down the stretch if they had both him the Nuge as options for 3rd line centers this year.
Mc Leod seems like a player who's career is going to take off with the right players around him. The Edmonton experience made him better.

 

[Legion34]

So you seem to have no understanding of things.

Hes been very good in the middle 6 role with some PP time and PK t I'm me.

The Sabres season has been an odd one. They seem tu o play to the level of their competition.

They are neR thr top of the league in...
-- scoring in 5 on 5
-- first period scoring

They have been poor in PP being bottom 5

They are something like 4-8-3 in gsmed tied entering the 3rd. They gave a poor OT/SO record

75% of the games they L in regulstion/OT/SO they either led, tied, down by the one in 3rd

Difference with the 90 pt team a few yrs ago is the PP where they were top 10. They have a top 10 pp this yr many of these close games would have gotten them pts they missed on

Last season, adv metrics were near the same as tampa except for PP and PK


They are 17 behind Ottawa so small m.j argins they easily could be in a WC spot

???? 17 points behind is a monstrous gap.

 

[Djp]

I don’t think many people had McLeod down for 50 points. On that side of the equation it seems like a win for the Sabres.

Savoie, seems like what the Sabres thought they were giving up. An undersized, skilled forward who has some growing to do before he becomes a NHL player. I think the Sabres and the Oilers probably had different opinions on what Savoie as a finished product will look like. It will be interesting to see who had the better scouts in this case.

On Savoie...he played some games last year for rochester and did pretty well.

22/23 he was one if the last cuts before the season

23/24 he got injured right before the season. Had injury rehab in rochester. Then they dressed him for a game and he sat on the bench . Nr t day weather ack to CHL.

I think something else was going on here behind the scenes. Maybe they think he will be too much of an injury risk in the nhl


Since he got drafted they saw how Kulich was and benson and saw him expendable

???? 17 points behind is a monstrous gap.

Actually it isnt...

They have had 75% of the games the lost they were down 1 g or tied in the 3rd

With a better PP they likely can take 10 of those to OT ( over half of them they had 3rd period lead or tied with under 10 min1 goal games in 3rd and turn them in to tied games to OT or reg wins

In many of these 1 g deficit games they were 0 for # on the PP

Once in OT it's about 50/50 on extra point. 10 more points from a tie instead of reg loss, then win 5 of them in OT/SO gives them 15 points.

Half of their OT loses were hames they had the lead and team pulled goalie to tie. They W in regulation 2 of these that turns OTL to a Win for as extra 2 pts.

15+2=17

Dont be surprised if they make a big swing next year in standings if they can improve their PP and PK and a bit on the team D.

 

[Realm]

On Savoie...he played some games last year for rochester and did pretty well.

22/23 he was one if the last cuts before the season

23/24 he got injured right before the season. Had injury rehab in rochester. Then they dressed him for a game and he sat on the bench . Nr t day weather ack to CHL.

I think something else was going on here behind the scenes. Maybe they think he will be too much of an injury risk in the nhl


Since he got drafted they saw how Kulich was and benson and saw him expendable



Actually it isnt...

They have had 75% of the games the lost they were down 1 g or tied in the 3rd

With a better PP they likely can take 10 of those to OT ( over half of them they had 3rd period lead or tied with under 10 min1 goal games in 3rd and turn them in to tied games to OT or reg wins

In many of these 1 g deficit games they were 0 for # on the PP

Once in OT it's about 50/50 on extra point. 10 more points from a tie instead of reg loss, then win 5 of them in OT/SO gives them 15 points.

Half of their OT loses were hames they had the lead and team pulled goalie to tie. They W in regulation 2 of these that turns OTL to a Win for as extra 2 pts.

15+2=17

Dont be surprised if they make a big swing next year

On Savoie...he played some games last year for rochester and did pretty well.

22/23 he was one if the last cuts before the season

23/24 he got injured right before the season. Had injury rehab in rochester. Then they dressed him for a game and he sat on the bench . Nr t day weather ack to CHL.

I think something else was going on here behind the scenes. Maybe they think he will be too much of an injury risk in the nhl


Since he got drafted they saw how Kulich was and benson and saw him expendable



Actually it isnt...

They have had 75% of the games the lost they were down 1 g or tied in the 3rd

With a better PP they likely can take 10 of those to OT ( over half of them they had 3rd period lead or tied with under 10 min1 goal games in 3rd and turn them in to tied games to OT or reg wins

In many of these 1 g deficit games they were 0 for # on the PP

Once in OT it's about 50/50 on extra point. 10 more points from a tie instead of reg loss, then win 5 of them in OT/SO gives them 15 points.

Half of their OT loses were hames they had the lead and team pulled goalie to tie. They W in regulation 2 of these that turns OTL to a Win for as extra 2 pts.

15+2=17

Dont be surprised if they make a big swing next year in standings if they can improve their PP and PK and a bit on the team D.

17 points is a TON! How about we take away 17 points from the Sabres if its not that much and see how they are by for the worst team in the league. Sure, when you lose 65% of your games its easy to say ¨if we did this or that we could have...¨ Maybe they aren´t good enough if they constantly lose games in this fashion. I like the Sabres, I think they should be much better than they are, but the standings are the standings and 17 points is a TON! add 17 points to almost any team and they not only are easily a playoff team but they probably win their division.

 

[Djp]

17 points is a TON! How about we take away 17 points from the Sabres if its not that much and see how they are by for the worst team in the league. Sure, when you lose 65% of your games its easy to say ¨if we did this or that we could have...¨ Maybe they aren´t good enough if they constantly lose games in this fashion. I like the Sabres, I think they should be much better than they are, but the standings are the standings and 17 points is a TON! add 17 points to almost any team and they not only are easily a playoff team but they probably win their division.

Its about small margins.

In other sports like NFL you will see teams who went like 2-8 in one score games picking top 10 and then yhr next year they go 7-4 in these game and end up in the playoffs

This yr PP is around 18% with 36g

22/23 they finished 90+ they scored 63g at around 23.5%

The PP units consist of similar personnel

If they were around 25% this yr they would have gotten around 15 more goals.

Those 15 would have forced some of their 1g deficit or late game tied into OT games where they got wins in OT/SO

Of course as you arrle around the deadline it can be psychological in teans competing.

Buffalo was in WC spot before they hit the thxgvg 0-10-3 rut. 7 of the loses were one g deficit or tied in 3rd. They have a better PP and they go 5-4-4 this season is very different in mood.

They tie/win instead of reg lose the team gains confidence.

As I mentioned , last season buffalo and TB had near identical adv stats for a team except on PP and PK. On PP Tampa top 5 v buff bottom 5. TB had a slightly better PK

 

[ChaoticOrange]

His improved production is not a function of being given a top 6 role. He's been Buffalo's 3C most of the year. 2C basically only happened briefly — when Thompson was hurt, and since Cozens was dealt/Norris and Kulich got injured.

He has not been getting PP time, and his playing time with the Sabres best offensive forwards - Peterka, Tuch and Thompson - has been secondary at best. His most common linemates are Greenway and Zucker. He’s played with Lafferty and Malenstyn as much as he has Tuch and Peterka.

And let’s not pretend his offensive production prior to this year is anything close to what he put up in Edmonton. He has 5 more goals and 12 more points in 15 fewer games. He might end up a 50-point scorer. Also with excellent underlying numbers, only on a much inferior team.

Seems clear your mind’s made up, but to me, sometimes a puck is just a puck: the most obvious conclusion should be that he’s become a better player than you thought he was.

He's getting about 2.5 minutes a game more than he was in Edmonton. That matters. He's also getting a lot of time with Buffalo's top defencemen, which also matters. He's ALSO shooting 22% vs 11% as an Oiler last year. Extra time plus better support plus a massive shooting % bump explains it.

I do think this will end up being a Win/Win trade. It's just weird a contender made this move when they did.

 

[Gabrielor]

The take that this was an Erat/Forsberg trade was always insane, that's really the only point Sabres fans would make.

In a world where nearly everything our franchise does is wrong, it's nice to have 1 small positive. Let us have it.