Edmonton Oilers sign Ryan McLeod to two-year contract

The Edmonton Oilers have signed forward Ryan McLeod to a two-year contract worth $2.1 million per season.

McLeod was set for arbitration earlier this month, but avoids it with his new deal. He will be an RFA with arbitration rights when his contract expires in 2025.

McLeod previously made $800,000 on a one-year deal with the Oilers, with the 23-year-old being a victim of the team’s cap crunch at the time.

The native of Mississauga, Ontario, McLeod is coming off of a career-high 11 goals and 23 points in 57 games. It was two more than his previous best of 21 points in 71 games, and he also set a new personal best of five playoff points.

A two-way, defensive forward with speed, McLeod has 20 goals and 45 points in 138 games over three seasons with the Oilers. McLeod also has 20 goals and 56 points in four years with Bakersfield, but he didn’t go back to the minors for the first time in his pro career this past season.

Drafted 40th overall in 2018 McLeod spent four years with the Mississauga Steelheads, scoring a career-high 26 goals and 79 points in 2017-18. He was moved to Saginaw for their post-season run in 2018 but the Spirit ultimately fell short. McLeod also had 11 points in 15 games with EV Zug in the top league in Switzerland during the COVID-impacted 2020-21 season.

The Oilers currently have $4.282 million in cap space available, with RFA Evan Bouchard still needing a new deal. Of note, Leon Draisaitl is set to become a UFA the same season that McLeod hits the RFA market.