By Matthew Fairburn and Daniel Nugent-Bowman
The Buffalo Sabres traded 20-year-old ahead prospect Matt Savoie to the Edmonton Oilers in trade for heart Ryan McLeod and ahead prospect Tyler Tullio, the groups introduced Friday.
Now we have acquired Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio from the Edmonton Oilers in trade for Matt Savoie.
Particulars: https://t.co/nW9VxUzgmC pic.twitter.com/MgTxzqZHKC
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 5, 2024
Savoie, the No. 9 choose within the 2022 NHL Draft, appeared in just one NHL recreation and eight AHL video games within the Sabres’ group within the two years since he’s been drafted. McLeod, 24, had a career-best 30 factors in 81 video games throughout the common season whereas averaging 14:14 of ice time per night time. Tullio, a 2020 fifth-round choose, had 9 targets and 21 factors whereas enjoying within the AHL this season.
Buffalo normal supervisor Kevyn Adams stated repeatedly this offseason he instructed groups across the league he was keen to commerce draft picks and prospects in a deal that will assist the Sabres enhance their NHL roster. He traded a second-round choose on the NHL Draft to the Washington Capitals for Beck Malenstyn, a 26-year-old ahead recognized for his physicality and defensive play.
McLeod is an addition that would slot in larger in Buffalo’s lineup. And buying and selling Savoie, who was one of many high prospects within the Sabres’ system, exhibits they imagine in what McLeod may carry.
Buffalo additionally introduced it signed defenseman Henri Jokiharju to a one-year contract value $3.1 million. He was a restricted free agent and might be an unrestricted free agent after this contract. In accordance with Cap Pleasant, the Sabres have about $13.7 million in cap house after their strikes at present.
They nonetheless must signal restricted free brokers Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Peyton Krebs and Beck Malenstyn left to signal. Luukkonen, Buffalo’s beginning goalie final season, and Malenstyn, a latest commerce acquisition, have each elected for wage arbitration, in keeping with the NHLPA. Arbitration hearings might be held from July 20 to Aug. 4, so the Sabres nonetheless have time to come back to an settlement with these gamers earlier than the hearings.
What Sabres are getting in McLeod
McLeod is likely one of the quickest gamers within the NHL, in keeping with the NHL’s monitoring information. He reached a high velocity of 23.82 miles per hour final season and had 373-speed bursts over 20 miles per hour. Each rank among the many greatest within the NHL.
The Sabres added plenty of velocity to the underside six of their lineup within the final week, buying and selling for Malenstyn and signing Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Sam Lafferty.
Additionally they added Jason Zucker, who nonetheless thinks he can carry velocity to the lineup at 32 years previous. Clearly, that was a precedence for Buffalo this offseason. McLeod’s offensive manufacturing hasn’t popped within the NHL but, however he’s been a succesful two-way participant for the Oilers and ought to be the Sabres’ third-line heart.
He’s additionally from Mississauga, Ont., so he’ll now be enjoying nearer to residence.
What Oilers are getting in Savoie
Savoie has handled accidents the final two seasons however he’s been one of the crucial productive gamers within the WHL since he was drafted. He had 71 factors in 34 regular-season video games within the WHL final season after which added 10 targets and 24 factors in 19 playoff video games whereas main Moose Jaw to a WHL championship.
The Sabres have a ton of depth of their prospect pool, particularly after including one other heart, Konsta Helenius, within the first spherical of the draft final week.
Additionally they have two different extremely touted facilities in 2022 first-rounders Noah Ostlund and Jiri Kulich. And 2023 second-round choose Anton Wahlberg has additionally performed heart as properly. That made it doubtless that Savoie was going to shift to wing within the NHL, and Buffalo wasn’t going to have room for each prospect of their system.
Savoie is from Edmonton so he will get an opportunity to play nearer to residence and has the upside to be an affect NHL participant within the high six of a lineup.
Why have been the Oilers keen to commerce McLeod?
McLeod was within the crosshairs to be dealt by the Oilers after an inconsistent common season and a subpar postseason — at the least till the Stanley Cup Last — mixed with the crew’s huge spending in free company. Edmonton stays over the wage cap even together with his $2.1 million hit off the books. Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg are RFAs, too.
McLeod didn’t file some extent within the first 14 video games of the Oilers’ playoff run, leading to him being scratched for Sport 3 of the Western Convention Last. He responded with 4 targets in his final 10 video games earlier than Edmonton was eradicated in Sport 7 of the Last.
He’s a strong defensive participant, one thing that’s notably noticeable when he performs his most comfy and most popular place of heart.
He performed a distinguished function on the penalty kill, which allowed simply 4 targets within the playoffs, largely used on third ahead duo alongside Warren Foegele — who signed with the Los Angeles Kings in free company.
McLeod’s greatest manufacturing this previous season got here at left wing on a line with Foegele and Leon Draisaitl. He should work on enjoying extra on the inside and driving to the web, facets coaches within the group have been harping on him to do since he turned professional in 2019.
Curiously, the Oilers opted to not qualify Savoie’s older brother, Carter, final week after he spent two years with AHL Bakersfield. The incoming Savoie immediately turns into the Oilers’ greatest prospect as they attempt to replenish one of many worst pipelines within the league. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman, Oilers beat author
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(Picture: Andy Devlin / Getty Photographs)