The Edmonton Oilers are still in the hunt for a playoff spot, but the roster isn’t finished. If they’re going to make a real push in their current contention window, one area that could draw attention at the trade deadline is center depth. That’s where a familiar name enters the picture: Ryan McLeod.
McLeod is now with the Buffalo Sabres, but his role has become shaky enough that a move would at least make some sense. He was a healthy scratch recently, and that’s a rough outcome for Buffalo after sending top prospect Matthew Savoie the other way to get him in the first place.
Ryan McLeod is a healthy scratch for the Sabres tonight. Sounds like Louis Crevier will also be a healthy scratch.
- Matthew Fairburn (@MatthewFairburn) November 6, 2026
The surprise is understandable. McLeod put up back-to-back 50-point seasons, finishing with 53 points in 2024-25 and 54 in 2025-26.
That kind of production, plus his speed, should still have value for a team looking to add depth and pace down the middle. Instead, he’s been pushed to the edge of the lineup.
Through 15 games this season, McLeod has one goal and two assists for three points.
For Edmonton, the fit is easy to see on paper. The Oilers could use another center option, especially with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins having been more effective lower in the lineup. There’s also the possibility that Owen Michaels could benefit from a stint in the American Hockey League with the Bakersfield Condors after starting well but getting caved in at even strength.
A reunion would give Edmonton a fast, useful middle-six forward who has already shown he can produce. The problem is the money. McLeod carries a $5 million cap hit through the 2028-29 season, and Buffalo probably wouldn’t be eager to retain salary.
One possible cap answer would be moving Jake Walman, though that would require Walman to accept a deal to Buffalo and the Sabres to want a swap involving two players who may need fresh starts. That’s a neat idea, but probably not the likely path.
A more realistic framework would be:
Oilers Receive: F Ryan McLeod
Sabres Receive: D Beau Akey, Blues’ 2028 third-round pick, Sabres’ own 2028 seventh-round pick
That deal would still force Edmonton to clear just under $5 million in cap space, which could be difficult. If the Oilers stay healthy and bank cap space, the situation gets easier later, closer to the 2027 Trade Deadline. If they want McLeod sooner, they’d need to move money out elsewhere.
For Buffalo, the return includes a promising prospect in Beau Akey, a third-round pick, and their own seventh-rounder back after previously sending it to Edmonton in the Devon Levi deal. That kind of package could be enough to justify moving on from a player who is no longer a regular in the lineup.
Nothing is imminent, and there’s no report saying either team is actively working on this. But if McLeod keeps sitting out, a fresh start somewhere else feels like the kind of outcome that could eventually happen.
In Other News...
Sabres Face A Familiar Threat As Zach Benson Keeps Rolling
The Sabres head into an afternoon matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights looking to keep a useful trend alive, having already taken their last two day games this season. Buffalo also has a familiar subplot waiting on the other side, with Jack Eichel back in the building in the colors of the team he now leads, a reminder of how much history still hangs over these meetings even as the standings and rosters have changed.
For Buffalo, the more immediate concern is keeping Zach Bensons recent run going while avoiding the kind of special-teams trouble that can tilt a game quickly. The Sabres have had enough success in the recent series to feel they can handle Vegas, but this is the sort of matchup where discipline and puck management matter just as much as a hot hand up front. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Greenways New Team May Already Be Reconsidering The Fit
Jordan Greenways stay in Chicago may already be headed for another turn, with Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman reporting that the Blackhawks are looking at roster changes as they try to dig out of a difficult season. The former Sabres forward has had a quiet start with his new club, posting one goal and a minus-4 rating in 16 games, and Chicago has reportedly been fielding interest on other players and prospects as well.
For Buffalo fans, it is another reminder of how quickly the trade market can shift for a player who only recently moved on. Greenways situation is still fluid as the Blackhawks weigh their options, and his name now sits among the pieces Chicago may move if it decides to keep reshaping the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Let A Promising Test Slip Away At The Worst Time
A promising test against one of the leagues more established contenders slipped away quickly for Buffalo in a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, ending the Sabres three-game winning streak in the matchup. For a team still trying to measure itself against the NHLs better clubs, this was the kind of night that could have offered a useful benchmark, especially with Colten Ellis turning aside several chances and giving Buffalo a chance to stay within reach.
Instead, the middle of the game tilted the other way, and the Sabres never really recovered. Rasmus Dahlin had a difficult night on the back end, and Buffalo was left to sort through a result that felt more frustrating than lopsided, because the effort in goal and the early competitiveness were there, but the points were not. [Read more 🡒]