Sabres sign Ryan McLeod to a 4 year extension

[LGR4GM]

53 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

We’re so desperate for Sabres news we go crazy over a RFA signing of our own. Granted, love McLeod and like the term, but still. It doesn’t make our team better, it makes it the same which isn’t good enough….

give us something KA

[JP51]

16 hours ago, 7+6=13 said:

I'm happy with that contract.

and we retain our player...  I was half thinking he would get sheeted. 

[mjd1001]

I'm going to ask the same question I have been asking for a while. I don't have an answer myself and I really want to know what other people think:

How much ice time do you want McLeod playing next year?

-He averaged almost 17 minutes per game last year (16:50)

-As the season went on, his play seemed to improve and his ice time increased even more (the last 3 months of the season his average ice time for the month was 17:23, 18:53, 19:15 per game for each month).

So, nearly 17 minutes for the year, and he played better with MORE ice time later in the year when he was averaging over 18.  But 3rd line centers in this league average about 14.5 minutes, MAYBE 15.

So, if McLeod is going to be the 3rd line center, are we good with him getting 2, maybe 3 minutes LESS ice time per game than even last year? Especially since it seems Lindy wanted him on the ice a lot more than that, and he seemed to do pretty well handing the additional minutes?

 

[Drag0nDan]

Just now, mjd1001 said:

I'm going to ask the same question I have been asking for a while. I don't have an answer myself and I really want to know what other people think:

How much ice time do you want McLeod playing next year?

-He averaged almost 17 minutes per game last year (16:50)

-As the season went on, his play seemed to improve and his ice time increased even more (the last 3 months of the season his average ice time for the month was 17:23, 18:53, 19:15 per game for each month).

So, nearly 17 minutes for the year, and he played better with MORE ice time later in the year when he was averaging over 18.  But 3rd line centers in this league average about 14.5 minutes, MAYBE 15.

So, if McLeod is going to be the 3rd line center, are we good with him getting 2, maybe 3 minutes LESS ice time per game than even last year? Especially since it seems Lindy wanted him on the ice a lot more than that, and he seemed to do pretty well handing the additional minutes?

 

Some time on the PP would probably balance it out.  Win draws, screen the goalie, fetch the puck.  

[Weave]

4 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I'm going to ask the same question I have been asking for a while. I don't have an answer myself and I really want to know what other people think:

How much ice time do you want McLeod playing next year?

-He averaged almost 17 minutes per game last year (16:50)

-As the season went on, his play seemed to improve and his ice time increased even more (the last 3 months of the season his average ice time for the month was 17:23, 18:53, 19:15 per game for each month).

So, nearly 17 minutes for the year, and he played better with MORE ice time later in the year when he was averaging over 18.  But 3rd line centers in this league average about 14.5 minutes, MAYBE 15.

So, if McLeod is going to be the 3rd line center, are we good with him getting 2, maybe 3 minutes LESS ice time per game than even last year? Especially since it seems Lindy wanted him on the ice a lot more than that, and he seemed to do pretty well handing the additional minutes?

 

McLeod’s 3rd period usage will look alot different than his usage in the 1st teo periods.  He’ll end up in Kulich’s spot when the team is up and looking to keep a lead.

[Taro T]

3 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I'm going to ask the same question I have been asking for a while. I don't have an answer myself and I really want to know what other people think:

How much ice time do you want McLeod playing next year?

-He averaged almost 17 minutes per game last year (16:50)

-As the season went on, his play seemed to improve and his ice time increased even more (the last 3 months of the season his average ice time for the month was 17:23, 18:53, 19:15 per game for each month).

So, nearly 17 minutes for the year, and he played better with MORE ice time later in the year when he was averaging over 18.  But 3rd line centers in this league average about 14.5 minutes, MAYBE 15.

So, if McLeod is going to be the 3rd line center, are we good with him getting 2, maybe 3 minutes LESS ice time per game than even last year? Especially since it seems Lindy wanted him on the ice a lot more than that, and he seemed to do pretty well handing the additional minutes?

 

 

Personally, expect the Sabres to try to set McLeod up with a good 2 way game and have that 3rd line be the defacto 2nd line.  (Similar to how Drury's line was used back in the day.)  With the 2nd line being younger and more offensively focused.  (Like the RAV line was used.)  Of course, expected that exact same thing last year and it never materialized.  So, who knows.

Especially, if when the Byram saga is written and they land a Rust (or similar) to add to the top line. 

Rust - Norris - Thompson

Benson - McLeod - Tuch

Quinn - Kulich - Zucker

Doan - Krebs - Greenway

 

[Weave]

2 minutes ago, Taro T said:

 

Personally, expect the Sabres to try to set McLeod up with a good 2 way game and have that 3rd line be the defacto 2nd line.  (Similar to how Drury's line was used back in the day.)  With the 2nd line being younger and more offensively focused.  (Like the RAV line was used.)  Of course, expected that exact same thing last year and it never materialized.  So, who knows.

Especially, if when the Byram saga is written and they land a Rust (or similar) to add to the top line. 

Rust - Norris - Thompson

Benson - McLeod - Tuch

Quinn - Kulich - Zucker

Doan - Krebs - Greenway

 

Every spot Ive seen Quinn in the lineup makes me shudder.  Just ruins the line.

[dudacek]

McLeod’s ice time late had a lot to do with Dylan Cozens being traded and Josh Norris being hurt.

He may not have centred “the 1st line” but he was certainly the de facto 1C.

He won’t be that as long as Norris is in the lineup and his ice time will decrease accordingly.

However, unless Kulich takes a big step or Lindy changes his mind about Tage on the wing, McLeod will be the Sabres 2nd best centre.

And he will get 2C ice time, regardless of what label Sabrespace puts on his line.

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, Weave said:

Every spot Ive seen Quinn in the lineup makes me shudder.  Just ruins the line.

If he didn't get his head out of his bippy this summer, absolutely.  But would rather have him on a line getting 3rd line usage than one of the top 2 lines in either case.

[PerreaultForever]

2 minutes ago, dudacek said:

McLeod’s ice time late had a lot to do with Dylan Cozens being traded and Josh Norris being hurt.

He may not have centred “the 1st line” but he was certainly the de facto 1C.

He won’t be that as long as Norris is in the lineup and his ice time will decrease accordingly.

However, unless Kulich takes a big step or Lindy changes his mind about Tage on the wing, McLeod will be the Sabres 2nd best centre.

And he will get 2C ice time, regardless of what label Sabrespace puts on his line.

McLeod is a good third line player. If he is playing higher up your line up, your line up isn't good enough. 

[Big Guava]

On 7/1/2025 at 5:15 PM, Taro T said:

At least the guys who are here (and note, Peterka ain't here) do seem to actually want to be here.  

What a sad consolation on what used to be a very fun day.

Sabres excel at finding players that can score goals with no regard to any other aspect of their game...they will be fine, probably have another 5 of him in the pipeline.

[LGR4GM]

57 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

McLeod is a good third line player. If he is playing higher up your line up, your line up isn't good enough. 

Ryan McLeod would have finished tied for 4th on Florida last year in points and goals. He would have been 4th in points on Edmonton and goals as well. 

McLeod can play on the 2nd line if needed and probably with Buffalo running Kulich out there, McLeod will see 2nd line level TOI as he gets some tougher or longer 5v5 shifts and also PK shifts that Kulich will be sheltered from. He's about as close to being a 2nd line player as he can get and could have been one on 2 teams that went to the cup finals. The real question is will he maintain or exceed his play last year. He was a rare bright spot. 

[tom webster]

24 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Ryan McLeod would have finished tied for 4th on Florida last year in points and goals. He would have been 4th in points on Edmonton and goals as well. 

McLeod can play on the 2nd line if needed and probably with Buffalo running Kulich out there, McLeod will see 2nd line level TOI as he gets some tougher or longer 5v5 shifts and also PK shifts that Kulich will be sheltered from. He's about as close to being a 2nd line player as he can get and could have been one on 2 teams that went to the cup finals. The real question is will he maintain or exceed his play last year. He was a rare bright spot. 

It’s amazing to me that people who speak ad nauseum about the grit and toughness of the Panthers don’t understand that they really only have four or five true top line forwards. Really good ones, but not many.

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Ryan McLeod would have finished tied for 4th on Florida last year in points and goals. He would have been 4th in points on Edmonton and goals as well. 

McLeod can play on the 2nd line if needed and probably with Buffalo running Kulich out there, McLeod will see 2nd line level TOI as he gets some tougher or longer 5v5 shifts and also PK shifts that Kulich will be sheltered from. He's about as close to being a 2nd line player as he can get and could have been one on 2 teams that went to the cup finals. The real question is will he maintain or exceed his play last year. He was a rare bright spot. 

Sorry, but you are delusional. He's a third liner. 

[LGR4GM]

7 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Sorry, but you are delusional. He's a third liner. 

This is called anchoring. Look it up. 

[LGR4GM]

McLeod is somewhere between a 3rd and 2nd line player. Florida is basically built with guys who some team thought were 4th and 3rd liners and Florida was like... well actually

[dudacek]

24 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

This is called anchoring. Look it up. 

Certainly it’s something I’m guilty of.

But even allowing for the presence of that bias, how comfortable should we be slotting in McLeod as a 2C given his track record?

Which is essentially one season.

(For those wondering, McLeod’s production last season slides him inside the NHL top 50 for points production among centres. Coupled with his superior defensive results, that makes him unequivocally a legitimate 2C last year)

Edited 13 hours ago by dudacek

[dudacek]

I think fans generally lock themselves into a hierarchy-style lineup where you need to have a certain level of talent to qualify on a certain slot on the depth chart and play with other players of similar stature.

Which is ridiculous of course. Coaches employ lines to play roles and those lines change game to game and shift to shift based on a multitude of factors.

The last time the Sabres were good, the “3rd line centre” was 5th among forwards in ice time and the “1st line RW” was 7th. The “3RW” led the team in scoring.

The previous good team the “3rd line centre” led the team in ice time.

Edited 13 hours ago by dudacek

[Taro T]

12 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Certainly it’s something I’m guilty of.

But even allowing for the presence of that bias, how comfortable should we be slotting in McLeod as a 2C given his track record?

Which is essentially one season.

(For those wondering, McLeod’s production last season slides him inside the NHL top 50 for points production among centres. Coupled with his superior defensive results, that makes him unequivocally a legitimate 2C last year)

And IF Norris can stay healthy AND Kulich doesn't have any of the sophomore slump, the Sabres could actually have a good C spine.  But they REALLY need to stay healthy AND they can't regress (even a smidge) and that includes Krebs there.

One more item Adams MIGHT have in OK condition, but soooooo many things have to break his way for us to be able to say it is.

[Taro T]

And we should feel fine with McLeod written in as the defensive 2-way C centering the "checking" line.  But expect that line will be a legit 2 way line if the coaches are even remotely creative.

[LGR4GM]

27 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Certainly it’s something I’m guilty of.

But even allowing for the presence of that bias, how comfortable should we be slotting in McLeod as a 2C given his track record?

Which is essentially one season.

(For those wondering, McLeod’s production last season slides him inside the NHL top 50 for points production among centres. Coupled with his superior defensive results, that makes him unequivocally a legitimate 2C last year)

I feel better about McLeod at 2c than Kulich

[Taro T]

6 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I think fans generally lock themselves into a hierarchy-style lineup where you need to have a certain level of talent to qualify on a certain slot on the depth chart and play with other players of similar stature.

Which is ridiculous of course. Coaches employ lines to play roles and those lines change game to game and shift to shift based on a multitude of factors.

The last time the Sabres were good, the “3rd line centre” was 5th among forwards in ice time and the “1st line RW” was 7th.

The previous good team the “3rd line centre” led the team in ice time.

But none of that really matters as long as the players are effective in the roles they are placed in.  That so many of these players will now be in their 2nd year with Ruff theoretically will help both him to slot them where they belong and for them to understand what is expected of them.  Have no faith in this coaching staff beyond Ruff, and his willingness to roll it all back a 2nd time reduces the faith in him too.

Realizing goal scoring wasn't this team's issue last year (though it was on the PP and it was an issue 2 years ago) but would really feel a lot better about this lineup if they could even land a Rust to give them 3 true top 6W's with anywhere from 1-3 additional guys that COULD be legit (or at worst reasonable) top 6W's should all stay healthy.

Whether McLeod is called the 2C or the 3C, he does lock down the lock down C role.  Primary goal scorer is locked down.  One top 6 PF is locked down.  Would say at least 1, if not 2, of the 4th liners are locked down.  How well the other EIGHT slots get covered really will make or break this year (almost as importantly as has the 1G been locked down) and IMHO moreso than how well the D has been revamped because you're still going to have Dahlin on the ice 24 minutes / night which will cover a lot of issues that might remain back there.

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I feel better about McLeod at 2c than Kulich

By ice time, absolutely.  By role, depends on how they're being defined.  is your 2C your 2nd most used and 2nd most important C?  If so, no 2 ways about it, with a healthy Norris, McLeod has to be the 2C.

Are you defining it as the 2nd offensive C, with the 3C being the checking C?  If so, like Kulich there.  Definitely like him being pencilled in there better than being pencilled in as the 1C.  (Don't care how good his analytics looked next to Thompson; when the top teams were driving the net, he couldn't stop / slow them down.  It isn't fair to him to force him into that role again this year unless he's REALLY ready for a true breakout year.)  Don't like Kulich pencilled in as the checking C either.  2C or if we're surprised and Adams has a top 6C up his sleeve (yeah, right) even at 2LW is where hopefullly he'll be slotted in to start the year.

[dudacek]

2 minutes ago, Taro T said:

And we should feel fine with McLeod written in as the defensive 2-way C centering the "checking" line.  But expect that line will be a legit 2 way line if the coaches are even remotely creative.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Lindy use a base like he did 20 years ago:

Thompson is his Briere, Tuch his Drury. 

Each anchors a complete, 2-way line he is comfortable icing against an opponents best line, something he didn’t have when he kept running out Cozens, Peterka and Quinn in his top 6 for the first half of last year.

Theoretically, a Tuch/McLeod duo is going to be winning a lot of their matchups. Add Greenway as the Grier if you want to lean defence, Zucker as the Kotalik for offence.

Benson seems ideal as the Hecht to Tage’s Briere. @mjd1001 says Kulich works as their centre. I’d feel more comfortable with Norris as more high-end option, but if he’s right about Jiri all the better.

Then you can shelter Quinn on a unit as your Vanek, with Doan as his forechecker and defensive conscience.

Krebs and Danforth can anchor a pesky energy line with whoever isn’t with Tuch, or be reliable plug-ins where needed.

Malenstyn’s the spare.

[Taro T]

5 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Lindy use a base like he did 20 years ago:

Thompson is his Briere, Tuch his Drury. 

Each anchors a complete, 2-way line he is comfortable icing against an opponents best line, something he didn’t have when he kept running out Cozens, Peterka and Quinn in his top 6 for the first half of last year.

Theoretically, a Tuch/McLeod duo is going to be winning a lot of their matchups. Add Greenway as the Grier if you want to lean defence, Zucker as the Kotalik for offence.

Benson seems ideal as the Hecht to Tage’s Briere. @mjd1001 says Kulich works as their centre. I’d feel more comfortable with Norris as more high-end option, but if he’s right about Jiri all the better.

Then you can shelter Quinn on a unit as your Vanek, with Doan as his forechecker and defensive conscience.

Krebs and Danforth can anchor a pesky energy line with whoever isn’t with Tuch, or be reliable plug-ins where needed.

Malenstyn’s the spare.

They REALLY need 1 more F to make this work as they absolutely will deal with injuries and there are just so many guys that might not live up to the roles they get assigned to paly.

Not a huge fan of Rust at this point, but bringing him in gives Ruff so much more flexibility than he currently has especially when the plan has to get revised in real time.  And he should be available at a price Adams can find palatable.