{"id":270372,"date":"2025-10-27T23:23:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T23:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/270372\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T23:23:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T23:23:13","slug":"who-won-the-savoie-trade-former-oiler-finding-stride-with-sabres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/270372\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Won the Savoie Trade? Former Oiler Finding Stride with Sabres"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Edmonton Oilers shipped Ryan McLeod<\/a> and prospect Tyler Tullio to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Matt Savoie, the trade was seen<\/a> 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\u2019ll be, McLeod\u2019s numbers in Buffalo argue that things look a bit different.<\/p>\n

Edmonton was betting on Savoie\u2019s upside \u2014 a dynamic young scorer with speed and skill \u2014 while Buffalo sought an NHL-ready forward who could help right away. A year later, it\u2019s becoming increasingly clear that McLeod has offered bigger returns. <\/p>\n

McLeod has quietly become a huge part of the Sabres roster. Delivering far beyond what even Buffalo likely expected, since the trade, he\u2019s recorded 59 points in 88 games. He\u2019s 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\u2019t clear he would ever be much more, which is why the Oilers were comfortable trading him. <\/p>\n

Only 26 years old, McLeod still hasn\u2019t reached his ceiling. The only real knock so far has been his struggles in the faceoff circle.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Write off Matt Savoie Too Soon<\/p>\n

Savoie, on the other hand, has had a slower start in Edmonton. With just two points in 14 NHL games, he\u2019s carving out a regular spot in the lineup, but it\u2019s unclear where the Oilers see him fitting best. He\u2019s 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\u2019t clicked. He\u2019s been around it and the chances appear to be coming, but he\u2019s not yet broken through. <\/p>\n

\"MattMatt Savoie vs Ryan McLeod: Who won the trade between the Oilers and Sabres?<\/p>\n

Some believe he deserves a longer look in the Oilers\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

The Oilers made the trade hoping Savoie could blossom into a future top-six forward. That may still happen \u2014 he\u2019s only 21 \u2014 but in the short term, Buffalo clearly won the deal. McLeod\u2019s blend of reliability, speed, and versatility has made him an integral piece of the Sabres\u2019 forward group, while Savoie remains a work in progress.<\/p>\n

Next: Insider Reveals Stance NHLPA Took on the McDavid Deal with Oilers<\/a><\/p>\n

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