Ville Leino breakout year?
Posted 5:55 PM ET | Comments 18
By the title I know most Sabres fans will think I'm crazy but let's look at Leino for a second. I'll admit when I heard that Buffalo had signed him I was excited and thinking he might do good in Buffalo, then I heard the price. A 6-year deal for $27,000,000 with 4.5M cap hit. That's the definition of overpaid, he had one good season putting up 19G 34A 54 PTS +14 but to me did not deserve that money but whats life without risks.
When I first saw him play for Buffalo I was happy, the way he could hold onto puck was magic, he was great in the corners, and had great hands letting him deke his way through players with ease. Then as the season went on I would grow tired of him and his effortless game , every time he had a golden chance to shoot he would instead make a stupid pass that makes you watch highlights over and over again to understand why he decided to do that. Then if he had a great chance to pass he would shoot and most of the time directly at the goalie, just awful decision making. Also his defensive side wasn't good as he finished the season as a -2 but a lot of players finished as a minus player so I wont bash him for that.
Even though he had these problems I can understand them, to a degree, because he played with 3rd and 4th liners for most of the season.When he played with Pominville and Roy he was playing way better. If I was Lindy Ruff I would put him on a line with Grigorenko as center and either Ott or Pominville playing RW, I know Ott is more of a LW but everyone says he can play in different roles so why not try it. That line has the skill of Leino and Grigorenko, and the toughness of Steve Ott. Also Grigorenko is a big body and I'm sure he can throw some big hits and with his passing ability finding Leino wont be a problem, or even roofing one himself while Ott clears the way with his 110% give it all effort.
I think if Leino has good line mates I see him scoring 15-20 goals with 40-50 points total. I don't see Leino ever putting up 60+ points he just doesn't play with much energy or heart.
My Line Predictions for next season:
Vanek Hodgson Pominville
Foligno Ennis Stafford
Leino Grigorenko Ott
*Gerbe Mccormick Kaleta
I don't see John Scott playing much, maybe 30-40 games
Girgensons, Tropp, Adam fighting for a spot
Myers Regehr
Ehrhoff Sulzer
Sekera Leopold
Weber, McNabb, Pardy, TJ Brennan fighting for a spot.
Miller
Enroth
Maybe even seeing some 6'5 Connor Knapp play if there are any injuries, hopefully no injuries though.
*But I'd like to see Gerbe play with more talented line mates I think he's being held back by playing on the checking/grinding line.
What do you guys think?
http://msimoeshockeytalk.blogspot.com
When I first saw him play for Buffalo I was happy, the way he could hold onto puck was magic, he was great in the corners, and had great hands letting him deke his way through players with ease. Then as the season went on I would grow tired of him and his effortless game , every time he had a golden chance to shoot he would instead make a stupid pass that makes you watch highlights over and over again to understand why he decided to do that. Then if he had a great chance to pass he would shoot and most of the time directly at the goalie, just awful decision making. Also his defensive side wasn't good as he finished the season as a -2 but a lot of players finished as a minus player so I wont bash him for that.
Even though he had these problems I can understand them, to a degree, because he played with 3rd and 4th liners for most of the season.When he played with Pominville and Roy he was playing way better. If I was Lindy Ruff I would put him on a line with Grigorenko as center and either Ott or Pominville playing RW, I know Ott is more of a LW but everyone says he can play in different roles so why not try it. That line has the skill of Leino and Grigorenko, and the toughness of Steve Ott. Also Grigorenko is a big body and I'm sure he can throw some big hits and with his passing ability finding Leino wont be a problem, or even roofing one himself while Ott clears the way with his 110% give it all effort.
I think if Leino has good line mates I see him scoring 15-20 goals with 40-50 points total. I don't see Leino ever putting up 60+ points he just doesn't play with much energy or heart.
My Line Predictions for next season:
Vanek Hodgson Pominville
Foligno Ennis Stafford
Leino Grigorenko Ott
*Gerbe Mccormick Kaleta
I don't see John Scott playing much, maybe 30-40 games
Girgensons, Tropp, Adam fighting for a spot
Myers Regehr
Ehrhoff Sulzer
Sekera Leopold
Weber, McNabb, Pardy, TJ Brennan fighting for a spot.
Miller
Enroth
Maybe even seeing some 6'5 Connor Knapp play if there are any injuries, hopefully no injuries though.
*But I'd like to see Gerbe play with more talented line mates I think he's being held back by playing on the checking/grinding line.
What do you guys think?
http://msimoeshockeytalk.blogspot.com
Don't think weber gets a spot over Reggie, sekera had a great wc and I definately think weber is on the outside looking in. Remember Weber was a scratch until erhoff got hurt late in the season, sabres roll stopped after that. Agree with the forward lineup but I've heard grigorenko may not be NHL ready, people at prospect camp were saying he was slow out of position and looked lost on the ice just my opinion
Where's big John Scott??? Surely that guy will get into at least 40 games!!!
Don't resign Kaleta!!! Tropp is the 12th Forward. Sekera is Final D. McNabb, Brennan to Rochester (right now). Trade Weber for a 3rd or 4th round draft pick.
You Gotta resign Kaleta. Kaleta is a Veteran and he Pisses people off. Then you got Scott to Finish the Job. The Sabres are going to be the most hated team in our Division!
I would really like to see ville in the top six. He is a complimentary player that needs to be playing with good talent. I would relly like to see him playing on a line with hodgson vanek or pommenville. Ville is a very creative and undervalued playmaker. I also like the idea of putting vanek on the right wing. Leino-hodgson-PommOtt-Adam-VanekFoligno-Ennis-StaffGerbe-Mccormack-Tropp
I really see Adam falling in the depth chart in Buff. What would it take to pry him out of Buffalo. Was hoping to get him in the Regehr deal.
Weber sucks, he would never be above Sekera. Sekara is less of a defensive liability than Weber is.
I think they still think highly of Adam. It is totally on him to perform and if he does he will have a shot at playing some bigger minutes especially if grigorenko isnt up to speed. There are still alot of question marks at center so I think they will keep him around until they have things figured out.
Mcguizzy is so smart! What a stud
SCHREIBER YOU LITTLE WEINER AHAHA
Kaleta head butts people.... And Nice blog, but I really think you are up in the clouds tbh. Leino is overrated he was made to look better by Richards and whoever else he played with in Philadelphia.
The good news is Leino will have a breakout year! The bad news is, that's only a 20 goal season.
thinking Grigorenko or Girgensons is going to make the team this year is a long shot. I expect great things from them in the future, but Buffalo isn't the kind of team to throw dudes in the mix right out of the draft.
re. seedy see Tyler Myers