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...
Oilers Get The Win They Needed But One Concern Just Grew
The Oilers got the result they needed with a 4-2 win over Vancouver, and the night had the familiar fingerprints of Connor McDavid all over it. He kept his point and assist streak rolling to 18 games, setting up goals for Mattias Ekholm and Leon Draisaitl, while Zach Hyman returned to the lineup and chipped in an assist as Edmonton continued to lean on its top-end talent to get through a tight divisional matchup.
But the bigger picture for Edmonton was not just the two points. Devon Levi was back in goal and stopped 20 of 22 shots, giving the Oilers a steadier look in net, yet the game still carried a late concern that could matter more than the standings in the short term. One of their regular forwards left with an issue after taking a puck to the face, and his status will be worth watching as the Oilers try to keep building momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Win Came With A Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Scare
The Oilers got the result they wanted in a recent win, but it came with a jolt when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was hurt early enough to miss most of the contest. Edmonton still found enough production from its line combinations to survive the loss of one of its most trusted forwards, and the postgame read was as much about how the group adjusted as it was about the final score. Several combinations held up well, giving the coaching staff a useful snapshot of what worked when the lineup was forced to shift on the fly.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins status adds another layer to a roster that already has some moving parts, especially with the organization keeping an eye on Bakersfield as well. The Condors recent loss and the goaltending performance there are part of the broader picture, but the bigger question for Edmonton is how it manages its forward group if the injury lingers. With potential changes looming once Matt Savoie is back, the Oilers could be looking at another round of line juggling before long. [Read more 🡒]
Devon Levi Showed Oilers Fans Exactly What Matters Most
Devon Levis return to the Oilers came with the kind of perspective coaches and teammates tend to appreciate, especially this time of year. After getting back into the lineup, the goaltender talked less about his own numbers and more about the kind of games he wants to be part of, saying he likes the pressure of tight contests and the chance to help Edmonton come away with wins. He also made sure to note how meaningful Hockey Fights Cancer night was, a reminder that some moments around the rink carry more weight than what ends up on a stat sheet.
Levis approach felt rooted in something bigger than one game or one outing. He pointed to the winning mindset he learned from his grandfather, and it showed in the way he framed his job: the team comes first, and the results matter more than individual metrics. For an Oilers club that leans heavily on every detail in the crease, that kind of attitude is hard to miss, even if the rest of his story is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]