Leino

[Valas19 50]

What is even nicer is that Leino was our consolation prize for not winning the Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes. Looking more and more like it turned out pretty darn good.

[Opie 308]

What is even nicer is that Leino was our consolation prize for not winning the Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes. Looking more and more like it turned out pretty darn good.

I think that is the way the org planned it, they made it appear they were going after Brunnstrom, all the other teams saw this as the Wings getting another great Swede and said screw that our turn.

Mean while everyone is watching the one hand in the Brunnstrom mix, while the other hand is preparing to go after Leino.

But that is just one man's opinion, well maybe two or three!

[hamip1998 3]

Best.Response.Ever.

Unless your definition of a great power forward is Boyd Devereaux.

Malts showed his value on the one pk in the third after he chased the puck into the Shark's zone. Some of the best individual effort on the PK that I have seen all year.

Leino has made that line click. While it's not a traditional grind line, they are a scoring threat. Bye bye Kopecky.

Edited February 26, 2009 by hamip1998

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

I hope this is not true..but i was reading in the Red Wings hockey Examiner that there was a possibility the Red Wings were showcasing him for possible trade bait to other teams Ill see if i can find the link again

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

I hope this is not true..but i was reading in the Red Wings hockey Examiner that there was a possibility the Red Wings were showcasing him for possible trade bait to other teams Ill see if i can find the link again

Here it is

http://www.examiner.com/x-1405-Detroit-Red...r-the-Red-Wings

I myself was unaware that his contract is up at the end of this year...If we win a cup and he plays like he is now can we re-sign him????

or will he expect to much of a raise?

[Carman 387]

Here it is

http://www.examiner.com/x-1405-Detroit-Red...r-the-Red-Wings

I myself was unaware that his contract is up at the end of this year...If we win a cup and he plays like he is now can we re-sign him????

or will he expect to much of a raise?

He is restricted, so odds are his demands aren't going to be too high for the first year. Probably going to be another cheap 1 year deal.

[PROBIE4PREZ 58]

He needs to keep dancing after goals .. that was awesome .. looked like he was cross country skiing

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

He is restricted, so odds are his demands aren't going to be too high for the first year. Probably going to be another cheap 1 year deal.

Will we have room? Hossa and Franzen Leino???? sounds like we will have about $0.50 of cap space next year!!

[seeinred 1,488]

Agreed, Leino has been very impressive....but let's not get silly here. Canadian hockey players are still known for their unbelievable heart, and that's not likely a title that's going to be stolen by Finland any time soon.

How many Finns have their work ethic questioned? It's a title that the Finns definitely challenge for, and in my book hold, biased as I may be about it

[VM1138 1,921]

This guy is generating, that is for sure. However, one concern I have about him is the physical game. I am confident it will come with time, but there are many occasions where he doesnt finish the check. I am watching him even when he doesnt have the puck and my hockey sense tells me he will hit the opposing team member just after they release the puck, and he turns back towards the defensive zone.

Its good that he is defensively minded, but I would like to see him take on the more physical aspects. I think if we can get Z and Pav (crazy hitting in all games as of recent) to initiate and finish physical parts, we can work with Ville. Overall I think it will come, just wait till the playoffs. I think, looking back, that is when it was sink or swim time with our "EuroTwins." Sometimes a little adversity is what the hockey doc ordered to get him on track to the player I honestly hope he can be.

Beyond that, he's already becoming a versatile player. Didnt he kill a penalty tonite too?

Exactly. If Zetterberg and Datsyuk (especially Datsyuk) can improve their strength and allow themselves to be "re-trained" to play a different sort of game, I have faith that the Wings coaches and trainers can do the same for Leino, if he buys into the Wings system.

When can be sign up, and is anyone else afraid he might want to sign someplace that'll offer him crazy money?

[Opie 308]

Exactly. If Zetterberg and Datsyuk (especially Datsyuk) can improve their strength and allow themselves to be "re-trained" to play a different sort of game, I have faith that the Wings coaches and trainers can do the same for Leino, if he buys into the Wings system.

When can be sign up, and is anyone else afraid he might want to sign someplace that'll offer him crazy money?

RE: bolded

Worse case scenario Wings get draft picks, same with Hudler they are both RFAs at the end of the year.

[Casey 145]

Will we have room? Hossa and Franzen Leino???? sounds like we will have about $0.50 of cap space next year!!

Actually, with Hudler coming on and Leino playing like an absolute beast, I feel much better about maybe losing Franzen. Leino has better puck sense, and they can use some of Franzen's potential contract for Conklin.

[Guest Crymson]

Filppula convinced him to give it a go on the team. Not a bad pickup---Jokerit player of the season last season.

[Frozen-Man 144]

Anyone think we can keep him in the lineup when holmstrom comes back?

Might be a stupid question but i was under the impression there is no salary cap room for him in the lineup

There should be no problem having Leino in the lineup (cap wise) once Homer gets back because a player's salary doesn't count when they are on LTIR. That means that every day that Homer is out (assuming that they switch him to LTIR like they surely will) on LTIR his $12,097 daily salary does not count against the cap, add to that Stuart's $20,161 daily salary that didn't count against the cap while he was out (plus Chelli and Mac earlier this season) and it adds up to a lot of cap space that the Wings have. In fact the little cap space that they had plus the relief from the LTIR gives them $1,253,691 (and counting once Homer is placed on LTIR) in cap room. That is cap remaining that means that the could add a player for the rest of the season who has more than a $4.7M salary for the year (because it would be prorated for the remainder of the season). Thus, cap wise since Leino only has a $4,679 daily cap hit and a remaining prorated salary of $116,975 there is no cap reason why he can't stay on the team for the rest of the season (unless the Wings want to make a trade deadline acquisition for a big contract player and use the cap for him).

Really, the only problem with Leino staying up after Homer comes back is if there will be a roster space available for him since they are already rotating out a 4th line guy. However, with the way that he is playing it would not surprise me if they kept him up (unless they want him to keep getting big minutes in GR for a while longer before the playoffs).

[seeinred 1,488]

Filppula convinced him to give it a go on the team. Not a bad pickup---Jokerit player of the season last season.

Not just that, he won the Lasse Oksanen trophy for top player in the entire SM-Liiga and finished 2nd in league scoring.

[seeinred 1,488]

There should be no problem having Leino in the lineup (cap wise) once Homer gets back because a player's salary doesn't count when they are on LTIR. That means that every day that Homer is out (assuming that they switch him to LTIR like they surely will) on LTIR his $12,097 daily salary does not count against the cap, add to that Stuart's $20,161 daily salary that didn't count against the cap while he was out (plus Chelli and Mac earlier this season) and it adds up to a lot of cap space that the Wings have. In fact the little cap space that they had plus the relief from the LTIR gives them $1,253,691 (and counting once Homer is placed on LTIR) in cap room. That is cap remaining that means that the could add a player for the rest of the season who has more than a $4.7M salary for the year (because it would be prorated for the remainder of the season). Thus, cap wise since Leino only has a $4,679 daily cap hit and a remaining prorated salary of $116,975 there is no cap reason why he can't stay on the team for the rest of the season (unless the Wings want to make a trade deadline acquisition for a big contract player and use the cap for him).

Really, the only problem with Leino staying up after Homer comes back is if there will be a roster space available for him since they are already rotating out a 4th line guy. However, with the way that he is playing it would not surprise me if they kept him up (unless they want him to keep getting big minutes in GR for a while longer before the playoffs).

You don't actually accumulate cap space by placing a player on LTIR. Their cap hit still counts fully, you're just allowed to exceed the cap by that amount while they're on LTIR.

[The Secret 304]

I'm impressed with Leino. I'm also very happy that Wings start getting Finns to their team too. I really like finnish player due to their "don't give up" credo. I guess they are even better than canadians in this aspect.

Take off eh! You sound like such a Hoser making statements like that. Although having Leino on a line with 2 of our struggling Canadians really brought the best out of them. Might have been the best game from both Malts and Drapes playing with Leino at their side. I really like what I see from Leino and I can't wait to see him in the lineup full time. I really prefer Leino already over Filpula.

[Inultus 12]

I really prefer Leino already over Filpula.

I'd have to agree. I love Flip but he seems to lose the puck a lot, whereas Leino is a playmaker and a finisher.

[utahfalconer 0]

I did a little quick research. Ville Lieno has a .73 Point Per game average, which places him 6th among rookies this year. But he rates 64th in terms of Time on the Ice Per Game. Given a whole season, this guy could really rack up some points, and given some more ice time, think of the possibilities.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

Can someone tell me how playoff rosters work? I know that they have to be finalized before a certain date and expand to x number of players but does anyone know the exact details?

I would really love to Leino in April.

[GoalieManPat 1,007]

Agreed, Leino has been very impressive....but let's not get silly here. Canadian hockey players are still known for their unbelievable heart, and that's not likely a title that's going to be stolen by Finland any time soon.

Don Cherry, when did you sign up at LGW?

[clutchngrab 12]

the guy reminds me alot of Z... not overly quick or flashy, but tonnes of poise. he has shown that he can create his own shot. added plus is that he seems to be a threat no matter what line he's on. this guy is definitely a keeper.

He reminds me alot of Z too, but with a bit of Hudler thrown in as well. I seems to have that ability to make tight stops and turns while stick-handling much like Pavs and Huds can do.

[clutchngrab 12]

So the interesting question come playoofs is who will sit? Leino and Helm shouldn't in my opinion. Kopy all of a sudden is playing like Franzen. Draper takes face-offs. I guess its a good problem to have, but someone who should be playing won't be.

That's assuming Sammie, Flip and Cleary are all a given.

[Guest Four]

We cant give Leino too much ice time or he'll want to much next year! We have to give him a taste of playing in the big leagues and promise him a spot for next season if he keeps up his work ethic and offer him a low 3 yr deal

[Casey 145]

So the interesting question come playoofs is who will sit? Leino and Helm shouldn't in my opinion. Kopy all of a sudden is playing like Franzen. Draper takes face-offs. I guess its a good problem to have, but someone who should be playing won't be.

That's assuming Sammie, Flip and Cleary are all a given.

Maltby. Easy.