Leino's first game

[T.Low 1,011]

I missed the game, please fill me in on how Leino did. And how did Abrakadabrelkader do? I read one or two lines in the GDT that said they both did well, but looking for more anaylisis ans scrutiny.

Saw Ville's awesome first goal on the highlights. Sweet.

Thanks, guys.

Edit: trying to type Abelkekders name screwes up mu typung for thr est of the day!

2nd edit: Oh yeah, and how did Fedorov do? Damn, I wanted to see that game.

Edited February 2, 2009 by T.Low

[ashenhigh 9]

Leino looked very good. Although I now understand the critisicim about his skating ability. Leino is probably one of our worst skaters next to Kopecky, but he has a great hockey sense and knows how to score and pass well. I definately believe Leino is a strong upgrade to some players we have in the lineup.

I thought Abdelkader was really weak on his skates. He got thrown off the puck a couple of times. He also had a wide open slap shot in the slot that went 50 feet wide. Was not impressed by his last game, but hes played much better before.

I think bringing Abdelkader is a waste and Downey should be the second call up. But then again I guess I'm crazy with enforcer talk.

Edited February 2, 2009 by ashenhigh

[swiss_fan 3]

I was asking me the same questions! Particulary about Abdelkader ..

[egroen 384]

Leino is sort of a Datsyuk-light in that he is able to slow down the pace of the game when he has the puck, which for a good playmaker, can open up a lot of plays. What a strange goal he had -- Washington played that horribly, but I think he had a lot to do with that.

I think his two-way play can get there, as they already have him on the #1 PK unit in GR.

[Guest mindfly]

Some good stuff, can skate well, handle pucks well but obviously got bad chemistry with hossa and datsyuk, many times they didnt find eachother and leino looked a bit lost at times but thats normal in the first game

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Leino looked very good. Although I now understand the critisicim about his skating ability. Leino is probably one of our worst skaters next to Kopecky, but he has a great hockey sense and knows how to score and pass well. I definately believe Leino is a strong upgrade to some players we have in the lineup.

I thought Abdelkader was really weak on his skates. He got thrown off the puck a couple of times. He also had a wide open slap shot in the slot that went 50 feet wide. Was not impressed by his last game, but hes played much better before.

I think bringing Abdelkader is a waste and Downey should be the second call up. But then again I guess I'm crazy with enforcer talk.

While I agree that Leino's skating could use work I think it's something that can be improved by having him go to the same guy who improved Hudler's skating last summer.

There's no teaching the kind of awareness and hockey sense that Leino has, and that's what makes him so damn intriguing.

Leino looked great out there. He looked like a legitimate top 6 forward. That's impressive for your first NHL game.

Abdelkader actually looked pretty good at times. He wasn't as impressive as Leino but he did play decent for a rookie. He looked much better last year before the playoffs when he had that 2 game call up.

Abdelkader has the potential to provide what Downey can't- a decent hockey player that can enforce, kill penalties and even chip a few goals in. All that being said- I think Downey has earned some time up in the bigs, especially after sitting down in GR without a complaint.

[T.Low 1,011]

Some good stuff, can skate well, handle pucks well but obviously got bad chemistry with hossa and datsyuk, many times they didnt find eachother and leino looked a bit lost at times but thats normal in the first game

He skates well or does not skate well? What is the general observation?

Mindfly: Glad to see the Elfin avitar go, it was erie. More so than the G Reaper.

[Andy Pred 48 337]

He skates well or does not skate well? What is the general observation?

Mindfly: Glad to see the Elfin avitar go, it was erie. More so than the G Reaper.

I think when your skating on a line with 2 of the best your bound to look a bit off.

I thought he did well for his first game, he def has the tools to do some damage on

the scoreboard, hopefully he'll get some more games in, before he gets sent back, on

Pasha's line. Im sure he's already pencilled in for next year's roster. To be honest, I

would have him on Pavs line and put Homer on the 4th, and use Homer on the 1st PP

unit. That is where Homer does most of his damage anyway, and lets be honest, Homer

ain't the best skater out there either.

[Spinner 6]

I was pretty impressed considering it was his first NHL game and he was probably quite nervous

[esteef 2,679]

They both played better than Kopecky, does that help?

esteef

[P. Marlowe 748]

(... )Abrakadabrelkader (...)

(...) Abelkekders (...)

See you later, Abdelkader!

[VM1138 1,921]

Leino is sort of a Datsyuk-light in that he is able to slow down the pace of the game when he has the puck, which for a good playmaker, can open up a lot of plays. What a strange goal he had -- Washington played that horribly, but I think he had a lot to do with that.

I think his two-way play can get there, as they already have him on the #1 PK unit in GR.

Hey, Datsyuk wasn't perfect in hsi first few seasons, either. If he can score and handle the puck, the rest he can learn.

[Mors 201]

They both played better than Kopecky, does that help?

esteef

Says it all.

[shannyfan1414 0]

Here is a video of his goal. I must say that it pretty nice especialy since it was his first NHL goal.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

He looks pretty good, keep him as a starter please. If people didn't realise watch the beginning how he was fighting in the boards for the puck and got it. He created that rush of his hard work, and finished the play with a hard working goal.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

He looks pretty good, keep him as a starter please. If people didn't realise watch the beginning how he was fighting in the boards for the puck and got it. He created that rush of his hard work, and finished the play with a hard working goal.

I was very impressed. Good work ethic, good vision and some nifty passes.

What I wasn't impressed with was Babcock's refusal to play him late. Draper found himself on a line with Datsyuk and Hossa in the 3rd while Leino sat.

[Casey 145]

Leino really impressed me. If he can get the speed up a little bit, he could be every inch a top-6 forward for Detroit for a long time. His hockey sense is pretty darn good for being a rookie, and he was playing with more fire than half the team.

Keeper.

Abdelkader looked a hair off, but considering how little experience he got last year, and how good he looked then, he gets a pass.

I'd give Leino a A/A- and Abdelkader a B-.

Edited February 3, 2009 by Casey

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I was very impressed. Good work ethic, good vision and some nifty passes.

What I wasn't impressed with was Babcock's refusal to play him late. Draper found himself on a line with Datsyuk and Hossa in the 3rd while Leino sat.

I think that has more to do with him getting his NHL wheels going. I bet the last half of the third period is absolutely brutal when it's your second NHL game. There's still a huge leap between AHL and NHL conditioning. This guy is definitely a pro hockey player (he was the Finnish MVP so he's not unfamiliar with conditioning for professional hockey) but he's still going to struggle a bit to make the NHL conditioning leap.

Plus he is a rookie. He's probably content with starting his NHL career on the first line with Datsyuk and Hossa!

[titanium2 867]

Leino's first goal - Washington

Z - Anaheim

Pav - Carolina

Filppula - St. Louis

Not that it matters too much, but does anyone remember anymore?