Sabres sign Ryan McLeod to four-year contract extension

The 25-year-old McLeod set career highs in 2024-25, scoring 20 goals and recording 33 assists for 53 points in 79 regular-season games. In five NHL seasons, he has 52 goals and 76 assists for 128 points in 298 career regular-season games with the Sabres and Edmonton Oilers.

In 56 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, McLeod scored seven goals and six assists for 13 points. He was part of the Oilers’ 2024 Stanley Cup Final run, scoring four goals in 24 games.

In 91 career AHL regular-season games, McLeod scored 20 goals and 36 assists for 56 points with the Bakersfield Condors. He also has three assists in five AHL playoff games.

Taken in the second round by the Oilers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, McLeod spent four seasons in the OHL with the Mississauga Steelheads and Saginaw Spirit. In 261 career regular-season games, he scored 61 goals and 133 assists for 194 points.

In 50 OHL playoff games, he also recorded 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 points.

The Sabres finished the 2024-25 season with a 36-39-7 record and 79 points, seventh in the Atlantic Division and the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference.

Forward Tage Thompson led the team in goals and points, scoring 44 times and adding 28 assists for 72 points. Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin led the way with 51 assists, along with 17 goals and 68 points.

Forward JJ Peterka, whom the Sabres traded last week to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for Michael Kesselring and Josh Dean, was second on the team in points with 68 (27 goals and 41 assists).