Trade Analysis: Edmonton and Buffalo both did well in the Matt Savoie for Ryan McLeod deal

On Friday, the Buffalo Sabres traded Matthew Savoie to the Edmonton Oilers for Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio. 

At first glance, the trade looks one-sided, enough so to elicit Martin Erat-for-Filip Forsberg comparisons. 

In Savoie, the Sabres moved on from a former ninth-overall pick, hot on the heels of a 2.09 point-per-game season and a WHL Championship. What they got in return was a bottom-six centre and another prospect off to a slow start to his professional career. Frame the deal that way, and yeah, it doesn’t look particularly good for the Sabres. It’s not like they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt either, after 13 years spent on the outside looking in at the playoffs.

There are many layers to this trade though, more to analyze than can be gleaned from each player’s Elite Prospects pro