Who Won the Savoie Trade? Former Oiler Finding Stride with Sabres

When the Edmonton Oilers shipped Ryan McLeod and prospect Tyler Tullio to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Matt Savoie, the trade was seen as a gamble by both sides. At the time, the Oilers looked like winners to many, as Savoie was seen as a player with untapped potential, and the Sabres were viewed as a club that had given up on a top prospect far too quickly. Today, while Savoie has yet to scrape the surface of what he’ll be, McLeod’s numbers in Buffalo argue that things look a bit different.

Edmonton was betting on Savoie’s upside — a dynamic young scorer with speed and skill — while Buffalo sought an NHL-ready forward who could help right away. A year later, it’s becoming increasingly clear that McLeod has offered bigger returns.

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McLeod has quietly become a huge part of the Sabres roster. Delivering far beyond what even Buffalo likely expected, since the trade, he’s recorded 59 points in 88 games. He’s got a new contract and new responsibilities, showing the coaching staff has him high on their list of important players. He has shown he can play as a first-line center, secondary scorer, or defensive specialist. In Edmonton, he was a penalty killer and a speed-driven depth center. It wasn’t clear he would ever be much more, which is why the Oilers were comfortable trading him.

Only 26 years old, McLeod still hasn’t reached his ceiling. The only real knock so far has been his struggles in the faceoff circle.

Don’t Write off Matt Savoie Too Soon

Savoie, on the other hand, has had a slower start in Edmonton. With just two points in 14 NHL games, he’s carving out a regular spot in the lineup, but it’s unclear where the Oilers see him fitting best. He’s been tried in the top six, top nine, and on the fourth line. He, too, is seen as a solid penalty killer with speed, but his offense hasn’t clicked. He’s been around it and the chances appear to be coming, but he’s not yet broken through.

Some believe he deserves a longer look in the Oilers’ top six, while others wonder how long Edmonton should wait for things to click and question whether his game fits the mold of what Edmonton needs right now.

The Oilers made the trade hoping Savoie could blossom into a future top-six forward. That may still happen — he’s only 21 — but in the short term, Buffalo clearly won the deal. McLeod’s blend of reliability, speed, and versatility has made him an integral piece of the Sabres’ forward group, while Savoie remains a work in progress.

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