Leino?

[Arde16 0]

Does anyone of you know what the injury that Leino had some time ago was? He sat out few games and after that his production is completely gone. Before the injury he had like 18 points in 14 games and now 20 points in 21 games. So im just wondering was the injury on leg or something that forces him to play at 50% so if anyone of you watches grand rapids games can someone lighten me up and tell if he is slower or something.

Getting kinda worried becose if Helm is getting more points than Leino then its not looking good!

[The Mule 0]

Does anyone of you know what the injury that Leino had some time ago was? He sat out few games and after that his production is completely gone. Before the injury he had like 18 points in 14 games and now 20 points in 21 games. So im just wondering was the injury on leg or something that forces him to play at 50% so if anyone of you watches grand rapids games can someone lighten me up and tell if he is slower or something.

Getting kinda worried becose if Helm is getting more points than Leino then its not looking good!

I forget what exactly the injury was, but I assure it was nothing serious. As a matter of fact, I believe it was a groin strain, or something small along those lines (small considering hockey players suffer from said strains constantly).

With that said, why does Helm outproducing Ville make him any less of a player? True, most Red Wings fans view Helm as more of a depth forward with Kris Draper type upside, he still has the ability to put the puck in the net quite often, owing largely to his tremendous speed.

In short, Helm is a fantastic player, and the more production we see out of him the better.

[Z and D for the C 712]

It's not about helm, it's about Leino.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

I'm Ville Leino?

[uk_redwing 495]

Leino stats are a bit decieving. He had a good point streak, but the majority of those were assists.

Aaron Downey has more points than him in the last 7 games...how does that make him feel? It should make him feel like he need to move his ass and start playing hockey, unless he wants to become the next Grigorenko.

Edited December 6, 2008 by uk_redwing

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Does anyone of you know what the injury that Leino had some time ago was? He sat out few games and after that his production is completely gone. Before the injury he had like 18 points in 14 games and now 20 points in 21 games. So im just wondering was the injury on leg or something that forces him to play at 50% so if anyone of you watches grand rapids games can someone lighten me up and tell if he is slower or something.

Getting kinda worried becose if Helm is getting more points than Leino then its not looking good!

He had a hip injury... just a strain type of thing.

His numbers have trailed off because he's never played games this packed together at this level of physical intensity. European leagues have far fewer games and are less of a physical grind. First year European players usually have trouble with the middle portion of the schedule but the best players usually get adjusted and pick it up again eventually. It's this adjustment period that makes a good time in the minors very important for our imported players.

Add to this the fact that Leino realizes he won't be called up right now due to cap restrictions and he's playing a bit uninspired.

The fact remains that he's got more than enough skill and maturity to play for the Wings. He just needs to be given the opportunity.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Leino stats are a bit decieving. He had a good point streak, but the majority of those were assists.

Aaron Downey has more points than him in the last 7 games...how does that make him feel? It should make him feel like he need to move his ass and start playing hockey, unless he wants to become the next Grigorenko.

Tell that to Crosby and Datsyuk! Assists are lesser points.

[T.Low 1,011]

I don't care what anyone says, a strained groin or even just a nagging groin is enough to slow you down. You lose your burst of speed with a groin issue because you feal like its going to pop if you hammer hard on it during acceleration, especially with your first step and any hard quick change of direction. To a degree, you will be less effective with any level of noticeable groin issue.

Edited December 7, 2008 by T.Low

[uk_redwing 495]

I don't care what anyone says, a strained groin or even just a nagging groin is enough to slow you down. You lose your burst of speed with a groin issue because you feal like its going to pop if you hammer hard on it during acceleration, especially with your first step and any hard quick change of direction. To a degree, you will be less effective with any level of noticeable groin issue.

I had a groin issue when I was playing soccer as a goalkeeper. I did used to tweak it regulary playing, but it was never constantly on my mind because when it wasnt hurting, it wasnt hurting.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I had a groin issue when I was playing soccer as a goalkeeper. I did used to tweak it regulary playing, but it was never constantly on my mind because when it wasnt hurting, it wasnt hurting.

Football is completely different from Hockey. Remember that a hockey player plays a 45 second shift at most. The body is working HARD and exerting the maximum energy in the shortest, most effective time possible. This hot-cold-hot-cold action really does magnify lingering issues.

Note that I'm not saying football players don't work hard! Just that you've got more jogging and down time in between the periods of intense activity (running down a player in a defensive situation or staying ahead of an aggressive defender). Your body sees more continuous activity- less hot-cold action.

Edited December 7, 2008 by Drake_Marcus

[T.Low 1,011]

I had a groin issue when I was playing soccer as a goalkeeper. I did used to tweak it regulary playing, but it was never constantly on my mind because when it wasnt hurting, it wasnt hurting.

Just curious, as a soccer goalie, during a given game, how long would you go between saves? When I grew up in Michigan boys played football and girls played soccer, so I don't really know. It seems that the goalie stands around doing nothing a lot while the girls kick the ball back and forth. Soccer kind of seems like "City" work, where only one or two people are actually working and the rest are all standing around watching them. Not like hockey where all five skaters are flying @ 20 miles an hour and even the goalie can't blink.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

I just hope that the injury doesn't leave any lingering long-term effects because he was amazing in training camp.

[Arde16 0]

To be honest cant say his linemates Haydar and Helm have done anything in the past 5-6 games. I guess its just been hard for the entire line, maybe communication isnt at its best and they are getting frustrated when not producing. And actually the whole team has been abit sloppy recently, after the really hot start they have started losing alot games.

[GoalieManPat 1,007]

Just curious, as a soccer goalie, during a given game, how long would you go between saves? When I grew up in Michigan boys played football and girls played soccer, so I don't really know. It seems that the goalie stands around doing nothing a lot while the girls kick the ball back and forth. Soccer kind of seems like "City" work, where only one or two people are actually working and the rest are all standing around watching them. Not like hockey where all five skaters are flying @ 20 miles an hour and even the goalie can't blink.

You really don't understand the game then unfortunately. Very rarely is a player just "standing around" in soccer. Mostly that is just when there is a restart in the game (throw ins, free kicks, goal kicks). The rest of the time they are always in some type of motion which 90% of the time is away from the ball. Making runs to open up a defense or to receive a pass. Hockey is more of short bursts for 30-40 seconds at an average of 15-16 minutes a night where soccer is a full game at a little lesser pace spread over a wider area for 90 minutes. Think of it as hockey being a 200m sprinter to where soccer is a marathon runner. And beleive me goalies cannot take there eye off the play. Soccer balls cannot reach speeds of a hockey puck but they come in pretty darn fast towards a goal that is not half covered by a players equipment.

On to Leino though. Give the kid a break. Hes coming over to a completely new way of life in the States. Maybe the excitement of the hockey at the start of the season kept him from expeiencing a full culture shock and now maybe its affecting him.

[Namingway 146]

You really don't understand the game then unfortunately. Very rarely is a player just "standing around" in soccer. Mostly that is just when there is a restart in the game (throw ins, free kicks, goal kicks). The rest of the time they are always in some type of motion which 90% of the time is away from the ball. Making runs to open up a defense or to receive a pass. Hockey is more of short bursts for 30-40 seconds at an average of 15-16 minutes a night where soccer is a full game at a little lesser pace spread over a wider area for 90 minutes. Think of it as hockey being a 200m sprinter to where soccer is a marathon runner. And beleive me goalies cannot take there eye off the play. Soccer balls cannot reach speeds of a hockey puck but they come in pretty darn fast towards a goal that is not half covered by a players equipment.

On to Leino though. Give the kid a break. Hes coming over to a completely new way of life in the States. Maybe the excitement of the hockey at the start of the season kept him from expeiencing a full culture shock and now maybe its affecting him.

Couldn't have said it any better myself. I play midfielder and know the differences between the sport. Comparing hockey with soccer is like comparing apples and oranges. They are two different sports that require different sets of skills.

[FlamesFan80 0]

No basis behind it but I've been wondering if it's perhaps not his motivation which could be an issue. The guy was lighting it up for a good string of games and there was no sign of him getting called up - if anything it was made clear there has been no cap room for him. After a while, that could slow a guy down.

Especially considering he was labeled "the best player" Babs ever sent down no? And he's rewarded without a call-up?

Again just a thought...

Edited December 9, 2008 by FlamesFan80

[T.Low 1,011]

Couldn't have said it any better myself. I play midfielder and know the differences between the sport. Comparing hockey with soccer is like comparing apples and oranges. They are two different sports that require different sets of skills.

Yes, my point exactly.