In 2024, the Sabres made one sensational trade that flew under the radar this season. Still, when you look at Ryan McLeod’s numbers, you can’t help but think the Edmonton Oilers let the Sabres get away with one.
And for as much as I like to torch the way Kevyn Adams has run the team lately, he got this one right and should repeat that trade a thousand times over. Just last year, few had a high opinion of McLeod, mainly because he wasn’t a flashy player.
McLeod played in 81 games in 2023-24, posting 12 goals and 30 points, with a 50.8 faceoff win percentage, and middle-six minutes. For a while, it looked like he’d hit his ceiling in the National Hockey League. But, little did we know about just what he had coming after the Sabres sent Matthew Savoie to Edmonton for McLeod.
Ryan McLeod trade showed under-the-radar moves can still work
Yeah, the Sabres were colossal failures in McLeod’s first year with the team. But as far as individual performances go, McLeod was fantastic, finishing the season with 53 points and 20 goals, good for a plus-13. He recorded top-six minutes at 16:50 of average total ice time and won 52.3 percent of his faceoffs.
While that trade may’ve looked sketchy to some in foresight, it more than paid off in hindsight. That, and the Jason Zucker signing. That said, while a slow phase-out and total culture overhaul would be in the Sabres best interests, it’s not the route Adams will go. So, one of the next-best things is to identify another McLeod-like player and deal with them.
This means potentially bringing someone in who only finished the season with between 25 and 30 points but would be a good fit for head coach Lindy Ruff’s system. I mean, Adams deserves a ton of credit here, despite the miscues I love pointed out. He identified a good hockey player, and one who could be at least solid in Buffalo, went out, and got him.
And best yet, he actually traded a player he drafted with a top-10 pick to make the move work. You can’t help but applaud that.
Who could be the 2025 version of Ryan McLeod?
Well, the Ryan McLeod trade was unforeseen, so if the Sabres are going to do this again and find a productive player, look for something similar. Chances are, they’ll be on a squad that went deep into the playoffs, much like the Oilers did in 2024.
They’ll be a player who probably didn’t get much recognition for their productivity, but one who could have a distinguishing trait that sets them apart from the rest of the league. For McLeod, it was speed, so it would be something in that realm. But instead of speed, maybe it’s a physical game and someone who isn’t afraid to score ‘dirty goals,’ just to throw out an example.
I’m not name-dropping for a reason; because there are a few names who would fit this mold. Instead, I’m looking for a specific type of player, and as we get closer to the Stanley Cup Final, we might just identify who the 2025-26 version of Ryan McLeod may be for the Blue and Gold.