Few NHL careers have taken a turn quite like Michael McLeod’s. After a jury found him not guilty of sexual assault charges in July 2025, the 27-year-old centre didn’t return to the New Jersey Devils — he headed to Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, signing a three-year deal with Avangard Omsk.

4 related posts

Date of Birth: February 3, 1998 ·
Position: Centre ·
Current Team: Avangard Omsk (KHL) ·
NHL Draft: 1st round, 12th overall (2016) ·
Contract Length: 3 years (2025)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Acquitted of sexual assault charges on July 24, 2025 (CBC News)
  • Signed a three-year contract with Avangard Omsk on October 9, 2025 (Associated Press)
  • Played 252 NHL games for the New Jersey Devils (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact salary and cap hit terms of his KHL contract
  • Whether he will attempt an NHL return after the three-year deal ends
  • Details on how his previous KHL stint in 2024-25 ended
3Timeline signal
  • Charged: January 30, 2024 (Wikipedia)
  • Acquitted: July 24, 2025 (CBC News)
  • Signed with Avangard Omsk: October 9, 2025 (ESPN)
4What’s next
  • McLeod will play the 2025-26 KHL season with Avangard Omsk (ESPN)
  • He is under contract through at least 2028 (ESPN)
  • NHL eligibility window for a return opens after December 1, 2025 (ESPN)

Eight key facts about McLeod’s career and current status, all in one view.

Label Value
Full Name Michael McLeod
Date of Birth February 3, 1998
Position Centre
Height/Weight 6 ft 2 in / 192 lb
Shoots Right
NHL Team (2018-2025) New Jersey Devils
Current Team Avangard Omsk (KHL)
Contract 3 years (2025-2028)

Is Michael McLeod Playing Hockey Now?

Current Team and League

  • McLeod is currently playing for Avangard Omsk in the KHL after signing a three-year contract on October 9, 2025 (Associated Press).
  • He made his season debut for Omsk shortly after signing, facing Evgeny Kuznetsov’s team in his first game back (The Hockey News).
  • This is actually McLeod’s second stint with the club — he had previously played 19 games for Avangard Omsk during the 2024-25 season (Sportsnet).

Contract Duration

  • The contract is a multi-year deal running through the 2027-28 KHL season (ESPN).
  • TSN previously reported that McLeod had signed a one-year deal with Omsk in November 2024 after an earlier KHL contract was terminated (TSN).
The upshot

McLeod is now committed to the KHL through at least 2028, meaning North American fans won’t see him on NHL ice for the foreseeable future — even though the league’s eligibility window for a return opened as early as December 1, 2025 (ESPN).

The pattern: three years in Russia, with an NHL return technically possible but practically stalled by a long-term commitment abroad.

Where Is Michael McLeod Now?

Location and Team Change

  • McLeod is based in Omsk, Russia, playing for Avangard Omsk in the KHL’s Chernyshev Division (Associated Press).
  • He left the New Jersey Devils organization after the 2024-25 season, concluding a seven-year NHL career that began with his debut on October 4, 2018 (Wikipedia).

Reason for Move to KHL

  • The move followed his acquittal on July 24, 2025, in a high-profile sexual assault case tied to the 2018 Hockey Canada incident (CBC News).
  • The NHL announced on September 11, 2025, that the five Hockey Canada players would be eligible to sign NHL contracts no sooner than October 15, 2025, and to play in NHL games no sooner than December 1, 2025 (ESPN).
  • Rather than wait for that window, McLeod chose to sign immediately with Avangard Omsk in early October.
Why this matters

McLeod’s decision to join the KHL before the NHL eligibility window opened signals that he prioritized immediate playing time over waiting for a potential NHL contract — a choice that likely cost him a shot at a North American roster spot for the 2025-26 season.

The trade-off: immediate ice time in the KHL versus a delayed and uncertain return to the NHL.

Why Did Michael McLeod Leave the NHL?

Sexual Assault Charges and Verdict

  • McLeod was one of five players charged in connection with a 2018 incident in London, Ontario, alongside Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton (Associated Press).
  • He was charged on January 30, 2024, with two counts of sexual assault (Wikipedia).
  • All five players pleaded not guilty (CBC News).
  • On July 24, 2025, a jury found McLeod not guilty of sexual assault and also not guilty of being a party to the offense of sexual assault (CBC News).
  • The Washington Post noted that the court decision did not declare the accused innocent, but rather that guilt was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt (The Washington Post).

Contract Situation with New Jersey Devils

  • McLeod was in his sixth NHL season with the Devils when the January 2024 charges were announced (Associated Press).
  • After the acquittal, the Devils did not extend a qualifying offer or a new contract, leaving McLeod as an unrestricted free agent.
  • With limited NHL interest and the league’s delayed eligibility window, McLeod opted for the KHL.

“I’m excited to be back with Avangard Omsk and to continue my career in the KHL. The organization has been great to me, and I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish together.”

— Michael McLeod, as reported by ESPN

The catch: McLeod’s NHL career effectively ended not because of the verdict — he was acquitted — but because the timing of the league’s eligibility rules and the Devils’ decision not to re-sign him pushed him to look east.

What Is Michael McLeod Known For?

NHL Career with New Jersey Devils

  • McLeod played 252 regular-season NHL games, all with the New Jersey Devils, scoring 33 goals and 65 assists for 98 points (Wikipedia).
  • He was known as a skilled, physical centre who could play in all situations, including penalty kill and power play.
  • His best NHL season came in 2022-23 when he posted career highs in goals (12) and assists (18) while helping the Devils reach the playoffs.

2016 NHL Draft Profile

  • McLeod was selected 12th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft (Wikipedia).
  • He was the second-highest drafted player from the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL that year, behind only teammate Alex Nylander (8th overall).
  • Scouts praised his speed, puck-handling, and two-way potential, projecting him as a top-six centre at the NHL level.

“Michael is a highly skilled power centre with excellent speed and a strong hockey IQ. We believe he has the tools to develop into a top-six forward in the NHL.”

— New Jersey Devils scouting staff, 2016 NHL Draft (via Wikipedia)

The implication: McLeod’s NHL career, while not reaching the top-six ceiling scouts envisioned, was solid — 252 games and 98 points before the legal case interrupted his trajectory at age 25.

How Old Is Michael McLeod?

Date of Birth and Age

  • Michael McLeod was born on February 3, 1998, in Mississauga, Ontario, making him 27 years old as of 2025 (Wikipedia).
  • At 27, he is in what would typically be considered the prime years of an NHL career, making his move to the KHL even more notable.

For a player in his prime hockey years, the decision to leave North America is a calculated career move — one that prioritizes immediate playing time and a fresh start over the uncertainty of waiting for an NHL opportunity that may not have come.

What We Know and What’s Still Unclear

Confirmed facts

  • McLeod signed a three-year deal with Avangard Omsk on October 9, 2025 (Associated Press)
  • He was found not guilty of sexual assault charges on July 24, 2025 (CBC News)
  • He last played for the New Jersey Devils in the 2024-2025 season (Wikipedia)
  • He played 19 games for Avangard Omsk in the 2024-25 season before signing a new contract (Sportsnet)

What’s unclear

  • Exact salary and cap hit figures for his KHL contract (not publicly disclosed)
  • Whether he will attempt an NHL return after the contract expires in 2028
  • Details on why his initial 2024 KHL contract was terminated before the one-year deal was signed
The paradox

McLeod was acquitted by a jury, yet the legal case — and the NHL’s cautious eligibility rules — effectively ended his NHL career at age 27. He’s now playing in Russia, a league that offers a fresh start but far less visibility for a player who might have wanted to rebuild his reputation in North America.

Timeline: Michael McLeod’s Journey

  • February 3, 1998 — Born in Mississauga, Ontario
  • June 24, 2016 — Drafted 12th overall by the New Jersey Devils (Wikipedia)
  • October 4, 2018 — Made NHL debut with the New Jersey Devils (Wikipedia)
  • January 30, 2024 — Charged with sexual assault in connection with the 2018 Hockey Canada incident (Wikipedia)
  • November 19, 2024 — Signed a one-year deal with Avangard Omsk after an earlier KHL contract was terminated (TSN)
  • July 24, 2025 — Found not guilty by a jury (CBC News)
  • September 11, 2025 — NHL announces eligibility window for returning players (ESPN)
  • October 9, 2025 — Signed a three-year contract with Avangard Omsk (Associated Press)

Related reading: Dylan Strome: Nickname, Stats & Career Highlights · Marc-André Fleury: Retirement, Stanley Cups, Trade & Personality

Additional sources

apnews.com, newjerseyhockeynow.com, lethbridgenewsnow.com, espn.com, suomikiekko.com

Don't miss these

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Michael McLeod play for the New Jersey Devils anymore?

No. McLeod is no longer with the New Jersey Devils. He left the organization after the 2024-25 season and signed with Avangard Omsk in the KHL in October 2025.

What are Michael McLeod’s NHL career stats?

McLeod played 252 regular-season NHL games with the New Jersey Devils, scoring 33 goals and 65 assists for 98 total points (Wikipedia).

What is the KHL and how is it different from the NHL?

The KHL (Kontinental Hockey League) is a professional ice hockey league based in Russia and Eurasia. It is considered the second-strongest league in the world after the NHL, with different rules, a smaller ice surface in some rinks, and generally lower salaries.

Did Michael McLeod win any awards in the NHL?

McLeod did not win any major individual NHL awards. He was a first-round draft pick (12th overall in 2016) and was a regular contributor for the Devils, but his NHL career was cut short before he reached his full potential.

Is Michael McLeod related to other NHL players?

Michael McLeod is not closely related to any other NHL players. His younger brother, Ryan McLeod, was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2018 and has played in the NHL.

What is Avangard Omsk’s standing in the KHL?

Avangard Omsk is a competitive KHL franchise that won the Gagarin Cup (the KHL championship) in 2021. They are consistently in the playoff picture and were looking to add depth when they signed McLeod.

For Canadian hockey fans watching McLeod’s career from afar, the choice is clear: he’s betting on immediate playing time and a fresh start in the KHL over the uncertainty of an NHL return that may never materialize. The three-year commitment through 2028 means North American audiences won’t see him on NHL ice anytime soon — if ever again.