Sabres acquire forward Ryan McLeod in trade with Oilers

The Buffalo Sabres acquired forward Ryan McLeod in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, getting an established NHL player who just experienced a long playoff run in exchange for one of the organization's top prospects.

Buffalo received McLeod and minor leaguer Tyler Tullio from the Western Conference champions for 20-year-old center Matthew Savoie. McLeod had four goals in 24 playoff games as Edmonton got to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to Florida .

McLeod is signed for $2.1 million for next season. The Sabres, moments after making the trade, re-signed defenseman Henri Jokiharju to a one-year contract worth $3.1 million.

They have not made the playoffs since 2011, a 13-year drought that is the longest of any team in the league.

Savoie was the ninth pick in the 2022 draft and made his NHL debut in November. It is so far his only game at that level after splitting time last season in junior hockey and the minors.

Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and recent trade acquisition Beck Malenstyn were among the 14 players who elected salary arbitration, a list that includes New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren and Carolina Hurricanes forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury .

The Associated Press contributed to this report.