McLeod will return to the lineup for the Sabres on Saturday, just in time to make his return to Rogers Place and play his former team, the Edmonton Oilers, for the first time. McLeod has missed the past three games with what he described as a “nagging” upper-body injury.

FINAL | Sabres 4 - Hurricanes 2 Lindy Ruff addresses the media Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen addresses the media Dylan Cozens addresses the media Ryan McLeod addresses the media The Sabres conclude their three-game homestand Friday versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tickets are available here.

It was a career-night for Ryan McLeod, as the Sabres forward recorded his first-career hat-trick in Buffalo’s 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday at KeyBank Center. Pat Malacaro has

He also endured a few rocky seasons with the Sabres that ended in him being bought out. In his first year with the Edmonton Oilers, he’s gone from a high-profile free-agent signee to someone struggling to get into the lineup.

January 16 - Ryan McLeod scored his first-career hat trick ... the Sabres entered three-on-two and Alex Tuch centered to Cozens, who blasted a wrist shot home from the high slot.

Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod, center, celebrates with left wing Jason ... (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens (24) celebrates with right wing Alex Tuch, left, and right wing JJ Peterka (77) after scoring during the second ...

With the game tied 2-2, Buffalo outshot Edmonton 11-1 to start the third period before Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored his second goal of the game, giving the Oilers their first lead of the afternoon. That tally was ultimately the game winner as the Sabres concluded their road trip with a 1-3-0 record.

Hopkins' second goal of the game snapped a tie with 11:01 left as the Connor McDavid-less Edmonton Oilers overcame a barrage of Buffalo shots in the final two periods to beat the Sabres, 3-2, Saturday at Rogers Place.

Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka each recorded a hat trick and an assist to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 7-2 win over the visiting Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.

Rasmus Dahlin has recorded 15 assists in his last 15 games. Dahlin is two assists away from tying Mike Ramsey for the second-most assists (256) by a Sabres defenseman alltime. Dahlin is one goal away from tying Ramsey for the second-most goals by a defenseman in franchise history (73).

The Sabres have the assets to entice Vancouver into a trade. The bigger question is what, exactly, Buffalo might have to give up.

A rebuild in the NHL can be a grueling process. With the patience needed to develop prospects, and decide whether to add or subtract to the team and what each offseason has to offer, there aren’t many situations for a team to be in that are more stressful than this.