NHL trade tracker: Sabres acquire Ryan McLeod from Oilers
Mike BrehmThe playoff-starved Buffalo Sabres acquired a Stanley Cup finalist, but it came at the cost of one of their top prospects.
The Sabres, whose playoff drought has hit 13 seasons, sent 2022 first-round pick Matthew Savoie to the Edmonton Oilers for center Ryan McLeod and 2020 fifth-round pick Tyler Tullio.
McLeod, 24, played all 24 games in the Oilers' playoff run, scoring four goals. He had a career-best 30 points in the regular season and is known for his speed, penalty killing and faceoff prowess.
He has a year left on his contract and was available because the Oilers re-signed their third line of Mattias Janmark, Adam Henrique and Connor Brown, plus signed free agent wingers Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson for their top six.
Savoie had 71 points in 34 games in his final junior hockey season and five points in six games last season in the American Hockey League.
A look at the bigger NHL trades since mid-June:
SCOUTING REPORTS: A look at all of the 32 first round picks
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July 3: Ducks acquire Robby Fabbri from Red Wings
Once again, the Ducks benefit from other team's acquisitions. The Red Wings moved Fabbri, an 18-goal scorer, after signing Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year, $9.5 million free agent contract. Anaheim will also receive the earlier of Detroit’s own fourth-round pick in 2025 or Boston’s fourth-round pick in 2025 (previously acquired) in the deal and the Red Wings get minor goalie Alexander Gage.
July 2: Ducks acquire Brian Dumoulin from Kraken
The Ducks give up a 2026 fourth-rounder for the 32-year-old defenseman. He won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins and had a career-best six goals last season with Seattle. He became available when the Kraken signed defenseman Brandon Montour.
July 1: Rangers acquire Reilly Smith
The Penguins get a conditional 2025 fifth-round pick and a second-round pick in 2027. Smith, 33, is in the final year of his contract. He had an off season in Pittsburgh after a trade but was a key member of the Golden Knights and won a Stanley Cup there.
July 1: Capitals acquire Jakob Chychrun
The Senators get defenseman Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick. Chychrun is 26 and in the final year of his deal. The defenseman provides offense and will help the Capitals' power play. Jake Sanderson had moved into the No. 1 role in Ottawa and right-shot Jensen is a good complementary piece.
June 30: Lightning acquire rights to Jake Guentzel
Assuming he signs, he'll give the Lightning an elite scorer who slots in well as a linemate to star players. He's five years younger than Steven Stamkos, who's headed to free agency. The third-round pick gives the Hurricanes something back after they had a big outlay to land Guentzel at the trade deadline.
June 29: Lightning trade Mikhail Sergachev to Utah
The Lightning get back defenseman J.J. Moser, forward Conor Geekie and two draft picks.
This is a shocker because the Lightning in 2022 had signed Sergachev, 26, to an eight-year, $68 million contract extension. But the Lightning are cap-strapped and his no-movement clause would have kicked in next week. He was a key member on their two Stanley Cup teams but suffered two injuries last season and finished with 19 points in 34 games. Moser is 24 and has totaled 57 points over the last two seasons.
Sergachev gives Utah a big-name defenseman. He averages close to 23 minutes a game and had 64 points in 2022-23.
Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said the team was deep on left side defensemen and he wanted to improve the forward group. He cited Geekie's promise and also said the increased salary cap space gives Tampa Bay opportunities in free agency or further trades.
He also mentioned that he didn't use the extra money to improve his offer to Steven Stamkos. The captain will test free agency on Monday, BriseBois said.
June 29: Lightning trade Tanner Jeannot to Kings
This is acknowledging a mistake. The Lightning gave up five draft picks to land rugged Jeannot from the Nashville Predators. But the one-time 24-goal scorer had eight goals in 75 games in Tampa Bay. The Lightning get back second-round picks in 2024 and 2025 from the Kings.
June 29: Maple Leafs acquire rights to Chris Tanev
Chris Tanev is the best defensive defenseman in the free agent class and the Maple Leafs need to improve their defense. He finished third in blocked shots during the regular season and was first in the playoffs. The assumption is he could be signed before hitting free agency. The Stars, who gave up two prospects and two draft picks at the trade deadline, get American Hockey League winger Max Ellis and a 2026 seventh-round pick in Saturday's deal.
June 29: Capitals acquire Logan Thompson from Golden Knights
Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said Thompson had requested a trade. The Capitals had a goalie opening after trading Darcy Kuemper. Charlie Lindgren has claimed the No. 1 role in Washington and Thompson will be a good backup who could fill in if there's an injury. The Golden Knights, who are short on draft capital, get two third-round picks.
June 29: Golden Knights, Devils make trade
The Golden Knights acquire forward Alexander Holtz and goalie Akira Schmid and the Devils get forward Paul Cotter and a 2025 third-round pick.
This is a follow-up to the Thompson trade and Schmid will slot in as Adin Hill's backup. He was available because the Devils now have veterans Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen in net. Holtz, 22, is a former first-round pick who cracked the Devils roster this season.
June 29: Utah acquires John Marino from Devils
This move gives Utah two top-four defensemen (Sergachev and Marino) in a manner of minutes. Marino is signed for three more seasons. Three draft picks are included in the move. The trade clears out space if the Devils want to be busy in the free agent market.
June 29: Blues trade Kevin Hayes to Penguins
The Blues also send a second-round to Pittsburgh in exchange for future considerations. Essentially this is a salary cap dump. His cap hit totals more than $14 million over the next two seasons, though the Flyers hold 50% of that from a previous trade.
June 28: Trades on first day of draft
The Edmonton Oilers acquire the 32nd overall pick from the Philadelphia Flyers for a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 draft.
Utah Hockey Club acquires the 24th pick from the Colorado Avalanche for a second-round pick (No. 38) and a third-round pick (No. 71) in the 2024 draft and a second-round pick in the 2025 draft.
Anaheim Ducks acquire the 23rd pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 31st pick and a 2024 second-round pick (No. 58).
Minnesota Wild acquire the 12th pick from the Flyers for the 13th pick and a 2025 third-round pick.
June 28: Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings swap picks
The Canadiens move up to the 21st pick, giving the Kings the 26th pick, a second-rounder and a seventh-rounder. This is the third trade involving movement in the first round. The San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres also swapped picks, as did the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders.
June 27: Capitals acquire Andew Mangiapane from Flames
T.J. Oshie is dealing with an injury and his future is uncertain. Mangiapane is 28 and scored 35 goals two seasons ago, though his numbers have dropped off. He has a year left on his contract. The Capitals give up a 2025 second-rounder.
June 27: Sharks, Sabres swap first-round picks
The Sharks move up three spots to No. 11 and the Sabres get the 14th overall pick plus a second-rounder. The Sharks have been busy recently. They claimed Barclay Goodrow off waivers and acquired Carl Grundstrom and Ty Dellandrea in trades as they try to build around expected No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini.
June 24: Senators acquire Linus Ullmark from Bruins
The signing of goaltender Joonas Korpisalo didn't pay off, so the Senators are upgrading their goaltending with a former Vezina Trophy winner. Korpisalo will back up Jeremy Swayman, who's due a big raise. The , Bruins also get forward Mark Kastelic and the 25th overall pick.
June 19: Kings acquire Darcy Kuemper from Capitals
It's a win-win because the Kings upgrade their goaltending with a former Stanley Cup winner and they trade disappointing center Pierre-Luc Dubois. The Capitals are light at center because they traded Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom has a long-term injury.
June 19: Devils acquire goalie Jacob Markstrom from Flames
Inconsistent goaltending was the Devils' downfall last season. Now, their tandem is veterans Markstrom and Jake Allen. The Flames get defenseman Kevin Bahl and a 2025 first-round pick.