Who Needs a Prospect When You Can Get A Star?
Posted 9:31 AM ET | Comments 3
Wow!
That was a big sigh of relief you heard from every other team in the league when the Wings lost out in the Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes. No other team wants the Wings to have any more weapons.
But now this. The Wings don't sign a prospect, they sign a bona fide star. And how did they do THAT under the radar?
Ville Leino, a forward, and this season's MVP of the Finnish Elite League has just signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings. Maybe all that stuff we heard of the mutual dislike between the Swedes and Finns is overblown. Or maybe all the Wings' Swedes have decided that Val Filppula isn't so bad, after all - even if he is Finnish. So, now comes another quality player from Finland - to the Wings.
Of course, there is no guarantee that any international player can make it in the NHL. Nevertheless, there is a higher probability of success with a proven star as opposed to taking a risk on a prospect.
Leino, like Brunnstrom, is only 24. But the comparison of records seems to stop there, as Leino had 28 goals and 49 assists in only 55 games. He is also a plus 34 - the kind of numbers that fit right in with the Wings.
You just have to admire the scouting the Wings do - and the fact that they know how to keep mum on the deals they have in the works.
So once again, the Wings continue to have the numbers of various stars in the rolodex.
And although the Dallas Stars got Brunnstrom, it currently looks like the Wings have the Stars number on the ice, as well.
That was a big sigh of relief you heard from every other team in the league when the Wings lost out in the Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes. No other team wants the Wings to have any more weapons.
But now this. The Wings don't sign a prospect, they sign a bona fide star. And how did they do THAT under the radar?
Ville Leino, a forward, and this season's MVP of the Finnish Elite League has just signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings. Maybe all that stuff we heard of the mutual dislike between the Swedes and Finns is overblown. Or maybe all the Wings' Swedes have decided that Val Filppula isn't so bad, after all - even if he is Finnish. So, now comes another quality player from Finland - to the Wings.
Of course, there is no guarantee that any international player can make it in the NHL. Nevertheless, there is a higher probability of success with a proven star as opposed to taking a risk on a prospect.
Leino, like Brunnstrom, is only 24. But the comparison of records seems to stop there, as Leino had 28 goals and 49 assists in only 55 games. He is also a plus 34 - the kind of numbers that fit right in with the Wings.
You just have to admire the scouting the Wings do - and the fact that they know how to keep mum on the deals they have in the works.
So once again, the Wings continue to have the numbers of various stars in the rolodex.
And although the Dallas Stars got Brunnstrom, it currently looks like the Wings have the Stars number on the ice, as well.
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27 The Octopus Shall NOT Be Mocked!
19 The Al Sobotka Rule
24 Home Dish Advantage
27 The Octopus Shall NOT Be Mocked!
The funniest thing about Brunnstrom is, before the Red Wings showed interest, he was on NOBODY's Radar. As soon as Holland had guys talking to him, he became as desirable as a healthy Peter Forsberg.
No one that hasn't played a single game of pro hockey in North America can be called a bona fide star, in my opinion.
The wings scouting just puts them in another league altogether. They have the smartest NHL players, which allows them to have such a successful system. they just get it. the New NHL also allows them to have a completely european roster (for the most part).