Michael McLeod (ice hockey)

Michael McLeod
McLeod with the Mississauga Steelheads in 2016
Born	(1998-02-03) February 3, 1998 (age 26) Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Right
NHL team	New Jersey Devils
NHL Draft	12th overall, 2016 New Jersey Devils
Playing career	2018–present

Michael McLeod (born February 3, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). McLeod was selected by the Devils with the 12th pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Junior

McLeod played minor ice hockey with the Toronto Marlboros of the Greater Toronto Hockey League. In 2014, he led his team to capture the OHL Cup and was awarded the Tim Adams Memorial Trophy as OHL Cup's most valuable player. ^[1]

McLeod was drafted by the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection, and played for them beginning with the 2014–15 OHL season. ^[2] McLeod was named an alternate captain during the 2015–16 OHL season and named the fifth captain of the Steelheads in the following 2016–17 season. ^[3] During the 2016–17 season, McLeod was named OHL Player of the Week on February 27, 2017, after registering five goals and 11 points in three games. ^[4]

Professional

McLeod was selected with the 12th overall pick by the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. ^[5] On October 7, 2016, the Devils signed McLeod to a three-year, entry-level contract. ^[6]

In a preseason game on September 25, 2017, McLeod tore his meniscus in his left knee and required arthroscopic surgery. When he was activated from injured reserve he was reassigned to the Mississauga Steelheads. ^[7]

On April 3, 2018, McLeod was assigned to the Binghamton Devils of the American Hockey League (AHL) following the conclusion of his OHL career. ^[8] McLeod was recalled for the first time by New Jersey on November 29, 2019, following Jean-Sébastien Dea being picked up on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins. ^[9] He made his NHL debut the following night in a 6–3 loss to the Washington Capitals, ^[10] and was sent back to Binghamton the following day. ^[11] McLeod got into 21 games with the Devils during the 2018–19 season, registering just three points (all assists). ^[12] On January 27, 2021, McLeod scored his first NHL goal in a 5–3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, his 39th game. ^[13]

McLeod set a career high in points in a season during the 2022–23 season, registering 26 points in 80 games. ^[14] On May 1, 2023, McLeod scored the first and ultimately game- and series-winning goal in New Jersey's 4–0 win over the rival New York Rangers in game 7 of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. ^[15] He finished the playoffs with two goals and six points in 12 playoff games for the Devils. ^[14]

McLeod signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract to stay with the Devils on July 1, 2023. ^[16] On January 24, 2024, the Devils announced that McLeod and defenceman Cal Foote were granted indefinite leaves of absence from the team. ^{[17] [18]} On January 30, 2024, McLeod, Foote, and three others were charged with sexual assault after a 2018 alleged assault in London, Ontario. ^{[19] [20]} On February 5, 2024, the London Police Service announced that McLeod had been charged with two counts of sexual assault. ^[21]

International play

McLeod was selected as the 13th forward to the Canada national junior team for the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. After an injury to Mitchell Stephens, McLeod took his place on the active Canada roster. ^[22] He was one of seven returning players for the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. ^{[23] [24]}

Personal life

McLeod is the older brother of Ryan McLeod, who is a member of the Edmonton Oilers organization after being drafted by them in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. ^[25] His other brother, Matt McLeod, plays for the Belfast Giants of the British Elite Ice Hockey League. ^[26] He is close friends with former Steelheads and Devils teammate Nathan Bastian. ^[27]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2013–14	Toronto Marlboros	GTHL		33	21	36	57	20		16	10	5	15	24
2014–15	Mississauga Steelheads	OHL		63	12	17	29	33		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Mississauga Steelheads	OHL		57	21	40	61	71		7	3	6	9	6
2016–17	Mississauga Steelheads	OHL		57	27	46	73	49		20	11	16	27	19
2017–18	Mississauga Steelheads	OHL		38	16	28	44	34		6	6	4	10	11
2017–18	Binghamton Devils	AHL		6	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Binghamton Devils	AHL		55	6	27	33	43		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	New Jersey Devils	NHL		21	0	3	3	13		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Binghamton Devils	AHL		47	8	15	23	59		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	New Jersey Devils	NHL		12	0	2	2	4		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	New Jersey Devils	NHL		52	9	6	15	42		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	New Jersey Devils	NHL		77	6	14	20	52		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	New Jersey Devils	NHL		80	4	22	26	43		12	2	4	6	15
2023–24	New Jersey Devils	NHL		45	10	9	19	10		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				287	29	56	85	164		12	2	4	6	15

International

Medal record
Representing   Canada
Men's ice hockey
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
	2015 Břeclav/Bratislava
IIHF World U20 Championship
	2017 Canada
	2018 USA

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014	Canada Red	U17	6th		5	0	1	1	2
2015	Canada	IH18			4	1	1	2	2
2016	Canada	U18	4th		7	2	2	4	2
2017	Canada	WJC			7	2	1	3	2
2018	Canada	WJC			7	1	3	4	2
Junior totals					30	6	8	14	10

Awards and honours

Award	Year	Ref
Tim Adams Memorial Trophy	2014	[28]

References

1. "Michael McLeod wins 2014 OHL Cup MVP". thescout.ca. April 1, 2014. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
2. "Steelheads select McLeod 5th overall". Mississauga Steelheads. August 1, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
3. Colpitts, Iain (June 2, 2016). "Steelheads pick Mississauga-born star Mikey McLeod as captain". Mississauga News. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
4. "Michael McLeod named Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week". Mississauga Steelheads. February 27, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2024– via CHL.com.
5. Ryan, Chris (June 24, 2016). "2016 NHL Draft: Devils pick Mississauga's Michael McLeod in 1st round". nj.com. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
6. "Devils sign 2016 first-round pick Michael McLeod". NHL.com. October 7, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
7. Mahiban, Dhiren (November 28, 2017). "Devils prospect Michael McLeod receives 'unexpected opportunity' after knee injury". The Sporting News. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
8. "New Jersey Assigns McLeod to Binghamtom". Binghamton Devils. April 3, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
9. Ryan, Chris (November 29, 2018). "Devils recall Michael McLeod after losing Jean-Sebastien Dea on waivers". nj.com. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
10. Stein, Amanda (November 30, 2018). "Devils downed by Capitals". New Jersey Devils. Retrieved November 30, 2018– via NHL.com. Devils 2016 first round (12th overall) pick, Michael McLeod made his NHL debut against the Washington Capitals. McLeod, wearing no. 41, centered the fourth line with Brian Boyle and Miles Wood on his wings.
11. Ryan, Chris (December 1, 2018). "Devils' lines, pairings vs. Jets (12/1/18) Will Butcher out; Michael McLeod sent down". nj.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018. One day after making his NHL debut, Michael McLeod went back down to the Binghamton Devils in the AHL.
12. Ryan, Chris (September 17, 2019). "Why a refined Michael McLeod is off to an impressive start early in Devils preseason". nj.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
13. "Devils' Michael McLeod: Scores first NHL goal". CBS Sports. January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
14. "Devils re-sign forward Michael McLeod to one-year, $1.4M deal". Sportsnet. July 1, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
15. Flannery, Kristy (May 2, 2023). "3 Observations From Devils' Game 7 Victory Over Rangers". The Hockey News. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
16. "McLeod Signs One Year Deal with Devils". New Jersey Devils. July 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023– via NHL.com.
17. "Devils Statement on McLeod and Foote". New Jersey Devils. January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024– via nhl.com.
18. Novozinsky, Ryan (January 24, 2024). "Devils' Michael McLeod, Cal Foote granted leave as 2018 Hockey Canada investigation heats up". nj.com. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
19. Mendes, Ian [@ian_mendes] (January 30, 2024). "Lawyer for Mike McLeod confirm to The Athletic he has been charged by London Police" (Tweet). Retrieved January 30, 2024– via Twitter.
20. "Lawyers: Flames' Dube, Flyers' Hart, Devils' McLeod charged with sexual assault". Sportsnet. January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
21. "2018 Sexual Assault Investigation". London Police Service . Retrieved February 5, 2024.
22. Mahiban, Dhiren (December 29, 2016). "Michael McLeod steps into Canada lineup in place of injured Mitchell Stephens". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
23. Traikos, Michael (December 11, 2017). "Team Canada's next household name: Will Michael McLeod become a star at the world juniors?". National Post. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
24. "Rosters - Canada 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship". Hockey Canada. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
25. "Ryan McLeod". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
26. "Matthew McLeod". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
27. Morreale, Mike G. (July 17, 2017). "'Super Buddies' McLeod, Bastian look to make mark with Devils". NHL.com. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
28. "Michael McLeod named 2014 OHL Cup MVP". Ontario Hockey League. April 4, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2016.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database
• Michael McLeod player profile at Ontario Hockey League

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Pavel Zacha	New Jersey Devils first round draft pick 2016	Succeeded by Nico Hischier