Ryan McLeod Bio
Ryan McLeod is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on September 21, 1999, in Mississauga, Ontario, McLeod first learned to skate on a backyard rink at 18 months old and grew up in a family with deep hockey roots. He previously played for the Edmonton Oilers, where he developed into a reliable two-way forward over five NHL seasons.
Selected by the Oilers in the 2018 NHL Draft, McLeod turned professional in 2019 and gradually earned a full-time role in Edmonton before being traded to the Buffalo Sabres in July 2024. Known for his skating, hockey sense, and penalty-killing ability, he reached the Stanley Cup Finals with Edmonton in 2024 before beginning a new chapter in Buffalo.
Early Life and Background
Ryan McLeod was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario, the son of Richard and Judi McLeod. He first learned to skate on his parents’ backyard rink at just 18 months of age, an early start that helped shape his development as a player. McLeod grew up in a hockey household and has two older brothers who also play professional ice hockey: Matt, who plays for the Belfast Giants in Northern Ireland, and Michael, who plays in Russia.
As a child, McLeod followed both the Edmonton Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs, but leaned toward the Oilers because his favorite player growing up was Ryan Smyth. He came up through the Toronto Marlboros of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) and quickly emerged as one of the top young talents in the region.
Path to Professional Hockey
McLeod starred for the Toronto Marlboros, winning the 2015 OHL Cup with the team and being named the championship’s Most Valuable Player. In his final season, he led the Marlboros in scoring and earned the GTHL Player of the Year Award. He also had a brief appearance with the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League as an affiliated player.
Selected third overall by the Flint Firebirds in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, McLeod refused to report, preferring to stay close to home in Mississauga. Flint ultimately traded him to the Mississauga Steelheads for eight draft picks, with McLeod joining the team for the 2015–16 season.
Over four OHL seasons split between the Mississauga Steelheads and the Saginaw Spirit, McLeod developed into a two-way center. After a midseason trade to Saginaw in January 2019, he was placed on the team’s first line alongside Cole Perfetti and Owen Tippett and helped the Spirit reach the OHL Western Conference Final.
Ryan McLeod Career
Junior Career (2015–2019)
McLeod made his major junior debut with the Mississauga Steelheads in 2015–16, appearing in 62 games and recording seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points. The franchise set new highs with its first winning season and reached the 2016 OHL playoffs, where it fell to the Barrie Colts in seven games. McLeod registered two assists in the seven-game series.
In 2016–17, McLeod improved to nine goals and 42 points in 68 games as the Steelheads advanced to the OHL Finals, losing to the Erie Otters. He broke out during that playoff run with five goals and 20 points in 20 games. He then set career highs with 26 goals and 70 points in 2017–18 and contributed 12 goals and 38 points in 32 games during the early portion of 2018–19 before being traded to Saginaw, where he added seven goals and 24 points in 31 regular-season games and five goals and 12 points in 17 playoff contests.
Edmonton Oilers Era (2019–2024)
Selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round, 40th overall, of the 2018 NHL Draft, McLeod signed his entry-level contract on May 1, 2019. He was assigned to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he recorded five goals and 23 points in his rookie season before the campaign was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also had a brief loan with EV Zug of the Swiss National League during the 2020–21 pandemic pause.
McLeod made his NHL debut on April 26, 2021, in a 6–1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets and recorded his first NHL point on May 11, assisting on a goal in a 4–3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. He scored his first NHL goal on November 14, 2021, against Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues in a 5–4 win, and finished 2021–22 with nine goals and 21 points in 71 games.
McLeod became a full-time Oiler in 2022–23, producing 11 goals and 23 points in 57 games before an injury limited his late-season action. In 2023–24, he posted 12 goals and 30 points in 81 games and played a key role on Edmonton’s penalty kill during a deep playoff run that ended in a Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Finals. He finished those playoffs with four goals in 24 games.
Buffalo Sabres Era (2024–Present)
McLeod was traded by the Oilers, alongside forward Tyler Tullio, to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Matthew Savoie on July 5, 2024. He made his Sabres debut on opening night, October 4, on the third line alongside Jordan Greenway and Jason Zucker in Prague as part of the 2024 NHL Global Series. He recorded his first point with Buffalo on October 12, assisting on Mattias Samuelsson’s goal in a 5–2 victory over the Florida Panthers, and scored his first Sabres goal on October 16 in a 6–5 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
On January 15, 2025, McLeod scored his first career hat trick against the Carolina Hurricanes in a 4–2 win, with the third goal awarded after Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns interfered with him. The performance cemented his offensive potential with his new club.
Driving Style and Strengths
McLeod is recognized as a smart, two-way forward whose skating, hockey IQ, and defensive responsibility make him a trusted penalty-killer. He has shown the versatility to play center and wing, and his ability to contribute in all three zones has earned him a consistent role at the NHL level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of McLeod’s career include his first NHL goal in November 2021, his first NHL playoff goal on May 4, 2022, against the Los Angeles Kings, and his first career hat trick on January 15, 2025, against Carolina. Reaching the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals with Edmonton and recording four goals across 24 postseason games stands as his most significant achievement to date.
Ryan McLeod Career Highlights
Across his OHL, AHL, and NHL career, McLeod has steadily built a reputation as a dependable two-way forward. He reached the OHL Finals with the Mississauga Steelheads in 2017, advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals with Edmonton in 2024, and scored his first NHL hat trick in January 2025.
NHL Highlights
McLeod made his NHL debut on April 26, 2021, and scored his first goal on November 14, 2021. He tallied four goals and a number of assists across 24 playoff games during Edmonton’s run to the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, and on January 15, 2025, he recorded his first career hat trick against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Ryan McLeod Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
McLeod is the son of Richard and Judi McLeod. He has two older brothers, Matt and Michael, who both play professional ice hockey, with Matt competing for the Belfast Giants in Northern Ireland and Michael playing in Russia. The family’s hockey tradition began early, with McLeod learning to skate on a backyard rink at 18 months old.
Personal Life
McLeod grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, and has long identified the Edmonton Oilers as his favorite childhood team because of his admiration for Ryan Smyth. He remains connected to his family and continues to build his professional career in the NHL.
2025 Season Performance
McLeod entered 2025 as a key part of the Buffalo Sabres’ forward group, playing on the third line and contributing on both the power play and penalty kill. He opened his Sabres tenure in Prague as part of the 2024 NHL Global Series and quickly produced offensively, notching his first career hat trick on January 15, 2025, against the Carolina Hurricanes.
His early-season scoring pace and defensive reliability have positioned him as a stabilizing middle-six presence in Buffalo. With continued trust from the coaching staff, McLeod is expected to play a central role as the Sabres push to climb the standings and return to playoff contention.