Analyst Calls Buffalo Sabres Move "Horrific"

Now that everyone around the NHL has had a weekend to digest the shocking trade that the Buffalo Sabres made on Friday, sending 20-year-old prospect Matt Savoie (#9 overall, 2022 NHL Draft) to the Edmonton Oilers in return for Ryan McLeod, confusion is starting to set in.

Analyst Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff weighed in Monday morning on NHL Network Radio on SiriusXM:

I think this is a CRAZY sell-low by Buffalo and I think it’s been an absolutely horrific off-season for (GM) Kevyn Adams... I think this is the definition of a panic trade.
It doesn’t compute. This trade does not make any sense to me. It’s not like Savoie is 23 years old and they’ve given him so many chances and they’re giving up on him. It’s so early in his career and he was only drafted a couple of years ago.

Former NHL GM Gord Stellick agreed while speaking with Larkin that "You’re gonna piss your scouts off with a move like that. 9th overall pick and you’ve done all that work... Did something go awry with Savoy? It’s that puzzling."

Savoie played just one game for Buffalo this past season, and in six games for the AHL's Rochester Americans, he recorded five points in six games. Back in junior, he was dealt to the Moose Jaw Warriors, where he had a terrific impact with a two-points-per-game pace at 47 points in 23 games (19 goals, 28 assists), and continued that run with 24 points in 19 playoff games to lead the Warriors to the WHL championship.

The Sabres get a solid checking forward in McLeod, 24 years old, but not someone who has some crazy untapped upside. "We know who he is at this point," said Larkin.

McLeod registered 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points with The Oil last season.