Leino practices with Red Wings for first time

[HockeytownRules19 902]

Excited to see him play

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20..._wings_for.html

[Dabura 12,232]

Cool. Wish there were pics...

[LidstromIsASuperhero 29]

So if he doesn't make the team does he have a clause that allows him to return to Finland? I would hate to lose him if he has a lot of potential.

[Dawgs 0]

"It's a good team, a lot of good players, plays the kind of European skilled hockey -- puck possession, good passing -- I play,'' Leino said. "Maybe my game is better (suited) for this team and I can play my own game more. I'm better in the offensive zone, scoring, that kind of offensive game.''

This quote worries me a bit. I hope hes not expecting that the Red Wings are all offense and he wont have to backcheck hard every play, every shift. If he does expect him back in Finland by November.

Edited September 16, 2008 by Dawgs

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

This quote worries me a bit. I hope hes not expecting that the Red Wings are all offense and he wont have to backcheck hard every play, every shift. If he does expect him back in Finland by November.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. First and foremost, I think his point was that the Wings are a high-powered offensive team that only got more dangerous with the addition of Hossa. Every offenseman likes to score and put up points, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they automatically do so at the expense of playing D. Now that being said, even if Leino does crack the lineup (which he very well may not), its not as if he's going to crack either of the top 2 scoring lines any time soon anyway. He may push for the third line *at best*, and if thats the case he'll probably take the spot of Sammy which puts him alongside Filppula and Cleary. Meaning he'll be on a line that's beyond defensively responsible, and he'll learn real quick what it means to play on this team and that line.

[Slave 31]

I agree NFM25

i think IF he makes the team....buhbye sammy, then we keep lils on D and ship off lebda....but meh who knows, all will be revealed withen the next 4 weeks

[timothy1997 0]

for a second there, i thought you meant Jay Leno.

[Opie 308]

Linky

So it appears that according to Detnews Leino wants to stay in Detroit.

Some same quotes from the above link but new stuff here.

Here is an interesting tidbit that I didn't know, unrelated:

Got game?

For $1,850, you and your buddies can take on the Red Wings' coaching staff in a 4-on-4 game at Joe Louis Arena. An eight-person team (two lines) costs less than $250 each.

This is the Wings' fifth annual Coaches' Challenge, which started during the lockout season. For more information, go to redwings.nhl.com.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Actually Opie, I believe that had gone beyond just the coaching staff in years past. It still may be, but it used to be coaching staff as well as former players. It was more like Red Wings "Staff Challenge".

[Dabura 12,232]

Leino's not going to bump Sammy from the team. There's a good chance Leino won't even make the cut.

[superdeluxe 0]

I think the veterans will make sure the youngster knows what is expected of him!

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Leino's not going to bump Sammy from the team. There's a good chance Leino won't even make the cut.

QFT. From what I've read, the safest bet is that Leino won't make the grade. His own former (and most recent) coach was skeptical about Leino making the Red Wings, due to his skating.

This seems to me to be much ado about nothing. I'd love to be caught by surprise by Leino, but at this point I regard him as a Finnish Grigorenko in terms of his tenure with the Wings.

[Guest LivingtheDream]

Maybe in camp they will put him up against lines with guys like Datsyuk, Hank, Homer, Franzen, Flip... don't you think that will show the D issue quite clearly? Let's not get on this kid for one comment. He sounds like a really good catch and I'm hoping he pans out. After all Finns are the new Swedes... are the new Russians are the new Canadians!

[Opie 308]

Leino's not going to bump Sammy from the team. There's a good chance Leino won't even make the cut.

I agree I think the best case scenario would be Leino taking minutes on the 4th line due to injuries or resting others. If anything bumps Sammy it will be a salary dump.

Leino, Abdelkader, Helm, Kopecky will all be fighting in camp for 4th line minutes which will be centered by Draper, so at this point it would have to be a player who can play wing that would be on the 4th line. They would have to be as sound defensively as Maltby to take minutes away form him, yet have some offensive upside, I don't see Babs benching Malts because he and some one else are a tie for what they bring to the 4th line.

The other wing will be Downey, D-mac, then the 4 youngsters competing.

The signing of Hossa created a log jam at forward. Just like the D, there are many prospects who can and have played with the club.

IF (not saying it will happen) Holland can trade both Lilja and Sammy together for a good prospect or picks that could move one of the youngsters in sooner, but I doubt it will happen.

WOW it is great being a fan of a team where there are talented players waiting to sign with your team and then you add to the fact that they have youth throughout the org that appears NHL caliber.

Sorry Duck guy, I feel for you still!

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Leino's not going to bump Sammy from the team. There's a good chance Leino won't even make the cut.

This was the point I was essentially trying to make, just in a roundabout way.

[betterREDthandead 58]

So if he doesn't make the team does he have a clause that allows him to return to Finland? I would hate to lose him if he has a lot of potential.

Yes, but I believe there's also a clause that says he's still Wings property if he does so and can't sign with another team.

[Dabura 12,232]

IF (not saying it will happen) Holland can trade both Lilja and Sammy together for a good prospect or picks that could move one of the youngsters in sooner, but I doubt it will happen.

Not going to happen. Management likes taking time in developing its prospects so that, the hope is, they're fully prepared by the time they hit the ice. There's really no need for the Wings to rush any of their prospects, given the way the pipelines are set up. The only conceivable exceptions would be Howard (should Ozzie and/or Conklin falter) and basically any prospect who's at risk of wilting away on the farm -- which I don't really think is the case with any of our guys.

[Dabura 12,232]

I suppose Leino might also count as an exception. But as someone already said, he's property of the Wings -- right?