The National Hockey League announced on Thursday when the five players who were acquitted of sexual assault in London, Ontario can sign with an NHL team and be back on the ice. The players can sign with a NHL franchise starting October 15 and start playing December 1. In essence, Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, and Michael McLeod will be suspended for the first two months in the NHL’s 2025-26 regular season.
While all players were initially charged with one count of sexual assault, McLeod was also initially was charged twice (once for sexual assault and once for being a party to the offences). It should be noted that all five players were acquitted and found not guilty. This does not mean that all five players were found innocent.
Where will Michael McLeod sign?
There is a possible belief that Michael McLeod could sign with the Buffalo Sabres. The reason is because he would join his brother Ryan McLeod, who had a solid season last year with the Sabres. Buffalo is actually a top candidate according to Rob Couch of NHL Trade Rumors, because the Sabres struggled on faceoffs this past season, and there is a belief that Michael McLeod could help stabilize Buffalo’s bottom two checking lines.
When did Michael McLeod last play?
Michael McLeod last played with the New Jersey Devils during the 2023-24 season. In 287 games with the Devils over six seasons, he had 29 goals and 56 assists for 85 points. McLeod was a -17 with 164 penalty minutes, five game-winning goals, two shorthanded points, 333 shots on goal, 2051 faceoff wins, 137 blocked shots, 522 hits, 138 takeaways, and 108 giveaways.
Look back at Ryan McLeod’s 2024-25 season
Ryan McLeod was tied for fifth in scoring with the Sabres in 2024-25 with Jason Zucker of Newport Beach, California. Both players had 53 points. Ryan McLeod had 20 goals and 33 assists, and was a +13 with 16 penalty minutes, two power-play points, two game-winning goals, six shorthanded points, 97 shots on goal, Â 630 faceoff wins, 35 blocked shots, 17 hits, 26 takeaways, and 70 giveaways.
Sabres update goaltending situation
Earlier today we talked about the Sabres signing goaltender Alexandar Georgiev yesterday. On Friday, we found out why. According to Rogers Sportsnet, goaltender Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen has an injury. There is no timetable at this time for his return. Last season, Lukkonen was the Sabres number one goaltender as he played in 55 games.
