Getty MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JULY 07: Matthew Savoie is drafted by the Buffalo Sabres during Round One of the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bell Centre on July 07, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The Edmonton Oilers have acquired Buffalo Sabres top prospect Matthew Savoie in a trade on July 5.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman broke the news that the Oilers were acquiring the former first-round pick for forward Ryan McLeod and prospect Tyler Tullio.
Savoie was drafted ninth overall by the Sabres in the 2022 NHL draft and was considered the team’s top prospect. He spent last season in the WHL where he recorded 30 goals and 41 assists for 71 points in 34 games. Savoie also played in one NHL game but didn’t record a point as well as six AHL games where he had 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points.
McLeod, meanwhile, is 24-years-old and has one year left on his deal that pays him $2.1 million. Last year with the Oilers, McLeod recorded 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points in 81 games.
Tullio was drafted by Edmonton in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL draft. He spent last season in the AHL and had 9 goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 54 games.
NHL Fans Blast Buffalo For Trade
Following the trade being announced, NHL fans thought the Oilers ripped off the Sabres in the deal.
@EdmontonOilers @NHL Sabres got punkd
“FLEECE,” a fan wrote.
“I commend you on your robbery skills,” another fan wrote.
Sabres fans, however, were not pleased with the deal and wonder how their general manager Kevyn Adams still has a job.
@BuffaloSabres Worst move Adams has ever made and that’s saying something
“What a terrible trade. Fire Kevyn Adams,” a fan wrote.
“Fire Adams a year ago,” a fan added.
It’s clear Sabres fans were not happy with the deal, but in the press release, Buffalo praises McLeod’s faceoff ability.
“McLeod was a consistent figure for the Oilers both in the faceoff circle and on the penalty kill. McLeod’s average of 4.20 power-play goals against per 60 minutes during the regular season was the seventh-lowest mark in the NHL among players with at least 100 minutes played shorthanded,” the Sabres press release wrote.
“He skated 36:43 shorthanded during the playoffs and was not on the ice for a goal against. In the faceoff circle, McLeod ranked third on the Oilers in draws taken (718) and had a 50.8 winning percentage,” the release added.
Buffalo still has over $16.8 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly.
Oilers Active in Free Agency
Edmonton was active in the first wave of free agency to improve their team that lost to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Oilers’ notable signings were adding Jeff Skinner on a one-year $3 million deal, and inking Viktor Arvidsson to a two-year deal worth $4 million per season.
“Yeah, we’re very pleased to add both Viktor and Jeff to our top-six group. I think they’re complementary players to the guys we already have in those roles,” Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations, Jeff Jackson said… “We’re super happy and very pleased to get both of them and we look forward to next year with them in our group.”
Skinner recorded 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points in 74 games with the Sabres last season. Arvidsson, meanwhile, played just 18 games due to injury last year with the Los Angeles Kings but recorded 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points.
Edmonton currently is over the salary cap by just $354,167. The Oilers still need to sign RFA defensemen Philip Broberg and RFA forward Dylan Holloway.