Sabres activate Ryan McLeod off IR, expected to play Saturday vs. Oilers

The Buffalo Sabres activated forward Ryan McLeod off Injured Reserve (IR) and is expected to play Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers.

Ryan McLeod (undisclosed) has been activated off IR and will return in Edmonton on Saturday.

*missed the last 3 games due to injury. https://t.co/SY8fI0YpRf

— Daily Faceoff – Fantasy (@DFOFantasy) January 24, 2025

Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed to media on Friday that McLeod would be in the lineup.

Lindy says McLeod is in. Zucker TBA. Good chance Reimer in goal. Dahlin maintenance. #Sabres

— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) January 24, 2025

In 45 games this season, McLeod has 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points. Now in his fifth NHL season, the Mississauga, Ont., native has 42 goals and 57 assists for 99 points in 264 career games with the Sabres and Oilers.

McLeod, 25, was part of Edmonton’s Stanley Cup Final run last season, scoring four goals in 24 games.

Taken by the Oilers in the second round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, McLeod was a productive player in junior with the Mississauga Steelheads and Saginaw Spirit, scoring 61 goals and 133 assists for 194 points in 261 OHL games. McLeod’s best season came in 2018-19, split between the Steelheads and Spirit, where he scored 19 goals and 43 assists for 62 points in 63 games, then five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 17 playoff games.

The Sabres are 18-25-5 with 41 points, last in both the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference, and third-last in the entire league. They’re 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, including a 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Jan. 23.

Tage Thompson leads the team in goals with 22 and points with 40, while JJ Peterka leads the way with 24 assists. Captain Rasmus Dahlin leads in ice time, averaging 24:30 per game, and leads defenders with 34 points (six goals and 28 assists).

Buffalo plays the Oilers on Saturday, then open up a four-game home stand, starting Tuesday against the Boston Bruins.