Oilers-Sabres Trade Back in Spotlight as Savoie Surges and McLeod Stalls

The hockey world is revisiting the Edmonton Oilers' trade with the Buffalo Sabres from July 5, 2024, which saw the Oilers acquire Matt Savoie in exchange for Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio. At the time, many observers felt Edmonton had won the trade, as they obtained a highly touted prospect in Savoie. Now, nearly a year and a half later, that sentiment appears to be solidifying as Savoie is thriving in Edmonton while McLeod's performance in Buffalo has plateaued.

Savoie, the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, came to the Oilers fresh off a Western Hockey League (WHL) championship with the Moose Jaw Warriors. While he had only played one NHL game with the Sabres, his potential was undeniable. McLeod, drafted 40th overall in 2018, had become a reliable bottom-six forward for the Oilers. The trade was seen as the Oilers betting on Savoie's upside, while the Sabres aimed to add an experienced player to their roster.

This season, Savoie has become a key component of the Oilers' lineup. He has played in all 29 games thus far, demonstrating his versatility by fitting in effectively on multiple lines. Recently, he has been skating alongside Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin. Beyond his offensive contributions, Savoie has also become one of Edmonton's top penalty killers. He is currently on the second year of a three-year entry-level contract with an annual average value of $2.66 million. He has also scored in back-to-back games for the first time in his NHL career.

In contrast, McLeod's performance with the Sabres has not progressed as hoped. While he was one of the brighter spots for Buffalo last season, which ended in a 14th consecutive year without a playoff appearance, his offensive production has stagnated. Despite this, the Sabres showed confidence in McLeod by re-signing him to a four-year, $20 million contract in the offseason. He hasn't scored in his last eight games.

Notably, Tyler Tullio, who was also part of the trade, spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL and is no longer with the Sabres organization. He signed a one-year AHL contract with the Tucson Roadrunners.

The Oilers and Sabres are scheduled to face off at Rogers Place on Tuesday night, adding another layer of intrigue to the evolving narrative of this trade. Oilers fans are undoubtedly hoping that Savoie's strong play continues and McLeod's slump persists. As the season progresses, the Oilers appear to be benefiting from Savoie's emergence as a versatile and impactful player, while the Sabres search for more consistent offense from McLeod.