News:Ville Leino is dealing with a lung issue, WGR 550 reports. "He had some issues with his lung yes that he's dealing with and he's actually a lot better, he's doing well right now," coach Ron Rolston noted of Leino on Thursday.
Analysis: In any case, Ville Leino won't play Friday against the Islanders as the Sabres close out their season. Leino finishes an injury-riddled campaign with six points in just eight games.
News:Ville Leino, who suffered an upper-body injury last week, could be done for the season, The Buffalo News reports. Said interim coach Ron Rolston: "He's probably out indefinitely right now ... I don't know where that's going to end up, but we'll see how it goes."
Analysis: Rolston says Ville Leino's injury won't need surgery, but if he's unable to return for the regular season, the Sabres will end up getting just eight games out of their highly priced free agent from two seasons ago.
News:Ville Leino, who suffered an upper-body injury last week, is not expected to return in the near future, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis:Ville Leino has been a major bust since the Sabres signed him to a large six-year deal last offseason. He only had 25 points in 71 games in 2011-12, and can't stay healthy this season. The Sabres traded away a number of veteran pieces this week, but given Leino's high price and injury status we're pretty sure GM Darcy Regier didn't even try to throw his name out there.
News:Ville Leino is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Analysis: As a result, Ville Leino -- who scored two goals Saturday against the Caps -- was scratched from the Sabres' lineup for Sunday night's game against the Bruins.
News:Ville Leino was not on the ice for warmups prior to Sunday's game against the Bruins.
Analysis: We'll have to see what, if anything, is ailing Ville Leino, but for now it looks like the Sabres will be without his services Sunday night.
News:Ville Leino scored two goals, including one on the power play, in Saturday's shootout loss to Washington. They are his first two goals of the season.
Analysis: He has six points in eight games this season and could prove to be a decent waiver grab as you push to a title. Check his availability.
News:Ville Leino's assist Saturday gives him four points -- all assists -- in five games this season.
Analysis: He's probably on your wire -- snag him if you need help with helpers.
News:Ville Leino assisted on two of the Sabres' three goals in Tuesday's win over the Habs.
Analysis: That's three assists in as many games for Ville Leino since returning from a hip injury that had kept him out all season.
News:Ville Leino (hip) made his season debut Saturday and picked up an assist in the overtime loss. He played almost 16 minutes. He has missed the first 27 games of the season.
Analysis: He has had just one good offensive season, but it's easy to forget that he has only really played three seasons of NHL hockey. There is upside here, but he needs to prove to us that he's more than the overpaid 25-point player from last season.
News:Ville Leino (hip) will make his season debut Saturday against the Senators, Sportsnet's Ian Mendes reports.
Analysis:Ville Leino has yet to suit up this season, but he will take the ice for the first time Saturday afternoon. Though Leino will be available, he did not do much scoring last season (25 points in 71 games), so fantasy owners shouldn't be in any hurry to get him into the lineup.
News:Ville Leino (hip) is likely to play Saturday against the Senators.
Analysis:Ville Leino, who has missed the Sabres' first 27 games with a hip injury, is poised to return to action Saturday. He has much to prove though before being a reliable fantasy option after recording just 25 points in 71 games for Buffalo last season.
News:Ville Leino (hip) won't play Tuesday against the Rangers, the Buffalo News reports.
Analysis:Ville Leino is close to a return, but he'll get a few extra preparation days with that in mind, with the Sabres' next game after Tuesday not until Saturday.
News:Ville Leino (hip) is a game-time decision for Tuesday's game against the Rangers, John Vogl of The Buffalo News reports.
Analysis:Ville Leino, who has yet to play this season, is going to attempt to give it a go Tuesday against the Rangers. Leino has practiced all week and hoped to play Sunday, but Leino wasn't quite ready to play. Tuesday's morning skate will be a good indicator if Leino will be ready to go Tuesday night.
News:Ville Leino (hip) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Flyers, Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reports.
Analysis:Ville Leino has been practicing the past week, and he was hoping to return Sunday, but he'll sit against Philadelphia. Perhaps the Sabres will activate the 29-year-old prior to Tuesday's tilt.
News:Ville Leino (hip) is aiming to make his return Sunday against the Flyers.
Analysis: The Sabres originally thought Ville Leino might need season-ending hip surgery, but Leino stuck with his rehab schedule and will likely play Sunday, or next week at the latest.
News:Ville Leino (hip) took part in practice Friday for the first time since Jan. 18, Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reports.
Analysis:Ville Leino has missed a good chunk of time with the injury, but he appears to finally be healthy. Leino will need a few practice sessions to get into game shape due to his lengthy absence, but he should be back in action in the near future.
News:Ville Leino (hip) took part in Saturday's morning skate, The Buffalo News reports.
Analysis: Following the session, Ville Leino said he felt better than he has all season, meaning a return could be on the horizon. Even so, Leino will still need to skate multiple days in a row and see how his hip recovers from the increased activity after missing all 18 of the Sabres' games thus far.
News:Ville Leino (hip) said that he felt "not bad" after skating Sunday, reports the Associated Press.
Analysis:Ville Leino has yet to play this season, but there appears to be some progress here. There was speculation that he could miss the rest of the season, but that appears to be less likely now.
News:Ville Leino (hip) may miss the entire season, The Buffalo News reports.
Analysis: Head coach Lindy Ruff admitted Monday that unless a different treatment option is effective, the winger will probably not play this year. Ville Leino injured his leg in practice before the Sabres' first game of the season, and although his condition is not improving, Ruff is still hopeful Leino's hip will not require surgery.
News:Ville Leino (leg), on injured reserve with a leg injury, will not require surgery on the ailment, WGR 550 reports.
Analysis:Ville Leino has been out this season with a leg injury but it is good news that it is not serious enough at this point for season-ending surgery. These things can change but it is worth checking back when a timetable has been outlined on his recovery.
News: The Sabres placed Ville Leino (leg) on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 20, Kevin Snow of Sabres.com reports.
Analysis:Ville Leino has not played this season due to a lower body injury, and fellow forward Nathan Gerbe is ready to go after recovering from back surgery, so the Sabres decided to place Leino on IR to open up a roster spot for Gerbe. The extent of Leino's injury remains uncertain, but he will miss at least two games before being eligible to return.
News:Ville Leino could be headed to IR due to a leg injury that has caused him to miss the first two games of the season, The Buffalo News reports. Said coach Lindy Ruff: "It just seemed like he wasn't gaining any traction by trying to skate and see where's he at. The thought now is maybe give him a couple days off the ice and see if we can improve his situation that way."
Analysis:Ville Leino almost certainly is out for Thursday's game against Carolina, and likely Friday's rematch as well. With forward Nathan Gerbe about ready to return from a back injury, the team may decide to use Leino to free up a roster spot.
News:Ville Leino (undisclosed injury) will miss Monday's game against Toronto.
Analysis:Ville Leino's absence has been confirmed by coach Lindy Ruff, but given that the forward was able to skate Monday, we'll consider him day-to-day.
News: Based on the team's morning skate, Ville Leino (undisclosed injury) will miss Monday's game against the Leafs, Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reports.
Analysis:Ville Leino was skating with injured forwards Cody McCormick and Nathan Gerbe on Monday, which provides solid circumstantial evidence that he will sit out his second straight game Monday.
News:Ville Leino (undisclosed injury) will miss Sunday's game against the Flyers, CSN's Tim Panaccio reports.
Analysis: Reports are that Ville Leino's injury may be to his right leg, but until further info is revealed we'll simply consider him day-to-day.
Sabres' Leino Leaves Friday's Practice With Minor Injury
News:Ville Leino left Friday's practice with an undisclosed minor injury and his status for Sunday's game will be determined after the morning skatearound.
Analysis:Ville Leino will look to rebound from a disappointing 2011-12 campaign that saw him score only 25 points after signing a big contract. Check back Sunday afternoon to see if he's playing in the Sabres' season opener against Philadelphia, his former team.
News:Ville Leino's third period goal in Saturday's loss to Toronto was his first tally in 14 games.
Analysis:Ville Leino's toe-drag at full speed on the goal didn't make him look like a guy who's scored seven goals this season, but that's what makes him such an enigma. It's simply not wise to rely on him for any production in fantasy leagues.
News:Ville Leino has just two points in 12 games since scoring twice on Mar. 3 in Vancouver.
Analysis: It's been a nightmare season for Ville Leino after signing a six-year, $27 million deal last summer. He was a popular sleeper in fantasy drafts last fall but has just six goals in 66 games. He shouldn't be anywhere near your fantasy lineup at this point in the season.
News:Ville Leino replaced the injured Thomas Vanek on the Sabres' top line at practice Friday, reports the team's official website.
Analysis:Ville Leino has just six goals and 20 points this season, but continues to get opportunities for the offensively-challenged Sabres. The injury to Vanek is apparently not serious, so any spike in production for Leino is likely to be short-lived.
News:Ville Leino scored twice in the game's first four minutes as Buffalo surprised Vancouver on Saturday night, 5-3.
Analysis: He still needs a lot more two-point nights to approach his preseason expectations. He only has 20 points in 54 games this season.
News:Ville Leino snapped a four game pointless streak with two assists Friday as the Sabres fell in the shootout to Montreal.
Analysis: The points came after he was moved off the Sabres' top line and onto a unit with Tyler Ennis and Drew Stafford. Ville Leino has been a massive disappointment with just 17 points in 47 games in his first season in Buffalo. Perhaps he can show some chemistry with his new line mates, but it's best to watch from afar for now.
News:Ville Leino will skate on the first line when the Sabres take on the Flyers on Thursday, according to The Buffalo News. He'll play with Derek Roy and Jason Pominville.
Analysis: Except for Pominville, the other two on that line have underachieved in pretty big fashion this season, so coach Lindy Ruff is putting the three talents together again in an attempt to get something going for one last late playoff push. Ville Leino has just 15 points in his first year with the Sabres and is pointless in his last three, so it's not like things can really take a step back. Perhaps this will get him going.
News:Ville Leino had two helpers as the Sabres downed the Bruins 6-0 on Wednesday night.
Analysis:Ville Leino is enjoying his best stretch since joining the Sabres over the summer, with five points (1 G, 4 A) in his last six games. Playing on the top line hasn't hurt either, but that will surely change with Thomas Vanek expected back by this weekend.
News:Ville Leino, who hasn't played since December 13 due to a broken foot, will play Saturday when the Sabres take on the Jets, according to John Vogl of The Buffalo News.
Analysis:Ville Leino was thought to be another game or two off, but with Derek Roy getting hurt Friday that may have sped up the urgency to get Leino back in there. In fact, the winger/center combo might see time at center in Saturday's game. We can't promise the minutes will be high after such a long absence, but when he's out there he might end up in a high-profile role.
News: Coach Lindy Ruff said Ville Leino's thoughts about playing Saturday against Winnipeg are probably overly optimistic but that the winger remains ahead of schedule from his broken foot, The Buffalo News reports. "Ville is ahead of schedule every day. That's just his personality, which is good," Ruff said. "We'll try to evaluate. He's chomping at the bit, but he hasn't had much practice time."
Analysis:Ville Leino previously thought he might be ready for Saturday's game, but that might be a long shot based on Ruff's more recent comments. Still, Leino's getting close so it wouldn't be a shock to see him back in action sometime next week. And the slumping Sabres could really use another skilled player on their forward lines, even knowing Leino's brief Sabres career has been a disappointment so far.
Sabres' Leino Hopes To Be Back Sooner Than Expected
News:Ville Leino (foot) says he could return in time for Saturday night's game against Winnipeg, according to The Buffalo News.
Analysis:Ville Leino has been a pretty big disappointment this year for the Sabres with just three goals and ten assists in 29 appearances. It was a big roll of the dice in the offseason, as Leino really only had one decent season offensively, and it has not paid off for Buffalo.
News:Ville Leino (lower body) skated with his teammates Tuesday for the first time since Dec. 13, The Buffalo News reports.
Analysis:Ville Leino's injury was termed "lower body," but it turns out he actually broke a bone in his foot blocking a shot in that Dec. 13 game. While Leino just re-joined the team Tuesday, he was able to skate on his own for a few days and could be back on the ice as soon as Saturday. That target may be a bit optimistic, but even if Leino sits out the rest of this week, he should be back in action soon.
News: Coach Lindy Ruff says Ville Leino will be lost for weeks with a lower body injury, according to the Sabres' official Twitter feed.
Analysis: The Sabres had huge hopes when they made Ville Leino an expensive free agent pickup this offseason, but it hasn't gone well so far. He has just 10 points on the season and now an injury that looks like it will keep him out until January. The team also had high hopes to finish toward the top of the Eastern Conference, but the forward ranks have been a revolving door between injuries and callups.
News: The NHL has suspended Ville Leino one game without pay for elbowing Flyers forward Matt Read during Wednesday's overtime loss, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: It was a close call whether Ville Leino would get a small suspension or let off (there was no penalty on the play), but the league is definitely cracking down on hits like Leino's, so one game doesn't surprise us. Leino will miss the Sabres' home game against Florida on Friday night, and appears likely to be back in the lineup Saturday.
News:Ville Leino picked up two assists Saturday and now has four points in his last four games.
Analysis: Is this a sign of life? He has been a miserable failure thus far in upper New York state. But he, Luke Adam and Zach Kassian seemed to have real chemistry on Saturday. Watch this situation carefully. His owners are frustrated and you might be able to get him on the cheap. But only if he starts to show a little life, of course.
News:Ville Leino, who has gotten off to a disappointing start for the Sabres, was on the ice centering Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville Monday, according to The Buffalo News.
Analysis:Ville Leino has voiced his desire to move back to the wing where he feels more comfortable. Centering Vanek and Pominville, two of the leading scorers in the NHL, is a pretty fair compromise for Leino, whose production could increase tremendously if he sees game action on the Sabres' top line.
News:Ville Leino has asked coach Lindy Ruff to move back to the wing, his natural position, in the absence of Tyler Ennis, according to The Buffalo News.
Analysis:Ville Leino knew coming in that the Sabres wanted him to move to center, but early on, the experiment has not worked. Granted, it is early, but fans are becoming frustrated with Leino's lack of production. Maybe the move back to the wing will help; only time will tell.
News:Ville Leino, who has only one goal in the first five games for Buffalo, is being moved to the fourth line for Thursday night's game in Florida, WGR550.com reports..
Analysis: The way the Sabres do things, there really is not a fourth line. What many will see as a demotion is just really an attempt by coach Lindy Ruff to shake things up a little and see if he can get Ville Leino going, in his more comfortable position on the wing.
News:Ville Leino scored in his first regular season game as a Sabre, netting the second goal in Friday's 4-1 win over Anaheim.
Analysis:Ville Leino came to Buffalo after breaking Buffalo's heart last year in the playoffs. After Friday, all has been forgiven.
News:Ville Leino is spending training camp working on moving to the center position after signing a big money deal with the Sabres over the summer.
Analysis:Ville Leino played the wing for Philadelphia, but has played center both in Detroit and Philly. Many thought center was a position of desperate need for the Sabres heading into free agency, and Leino's signing was seen as curious to some.
Leino Signs Six-Year, $27 Million Deal With Buffalo
News: Buffalo signed Leino to a six-year, $27 million deal, Bob McKenzie of TSN reports.
Analysis: New Sabres owner Terry Pegula continues his spending spree, adding Leino top Robin Regehr and Christian Ehrhoff. Leino had a solid year last season with Philly, though he struggled in the playoffs. He should see top-six duty with Buffalo and build off the gains he made this year. Note that even though Leino has seen a lot of time as a winger in recent seasons, the Sabres' initial plan is to use him at center.
News: Leino is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent Friday, Philly Sports Daily reports.
Analysis: Time is of the essence for Flyers GM Holmgren if he hopes to process a deal for Leino before free agency begins at noon Friday. Otherwise, Leino would liven up a free-agent pool as a blooming talent with first-rate skills handling the puck. The winger produced 19 goals to complement 34 helpers this past season.
News: Leino scored in overtime as Philadelphia beat Buffalo 5-4 on Sunday.
Analysis: Leino added an assist to help Philadelphia tie the series at three Sunday. Leino has three points (2G,1A) in the series against Buffalo.
News: Leino grabbed two goals and an assist in Tuesday's win over Pittsburgh, ending a three-game points drought.
Analysis: Leino was relatively quiet heading into Tuesday's pivotal clash with Pittsburgh, with just one point in five games. Leino's been a revelation and he'll be relied upon to have another strong playoff campaign.
News: Leino scored in the sixth round in the shootout to lift the Flyers to a 3-2 win over the Stars on Saturday and a playoff berth.
Analysis: It was a sweet little backhander into an open net after Kari Lehtonen took a chance and missed on a poke check. Leino has quietly and effectively delivered a solid fantasy season -- enjoy the ride.
News: Leino recorded his first NHL hat trick Saturday night. Two of the goals came on the power play.
Analysis: He snapped a seven-game goal drought with the markers and he now has 46 points on the season. He's a solid secondary scorer who is valuable in deep formats. Twenty goals and 50 points are within reach for him this season.
News: Leino grabbed one of Philadelphia's opening goals in Tuesday's loss to Phoenix.
Analysis: Leino's been a steady player and a nice boost to those relying on him for plus-minus production, as he's plus-19. He'd been quiet with his scoring of late, going almost three weeks, although he did miss some time with minor injury.
News: Leino (lower body) returned to the lineup Friday night and notched an assist in a loss to Carolina.
Analysis: Leino, who missed just one game with the injury, also picked up two PIMs. Feel free to use him as you normally would.
News: Leino remains day-to-day with a lower body injury, the Flyers' official site reports.
Analysis: Without getting specific about the nature of the injury, GM Paul Holmgren noted Thursday that Leino is feeling better, suggesting that Leino (39 points in 56 games) won't be out too much longer.
News: Leino is day-to-day with a lower body injury and he will not play Wednesday night, Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Analysis: There was no previous mention of this injury prior to the Flyers' pregame skate, so hopefully you'll be able to make the necessary adjustments to your lineup.
News: Leino scored a power-play goal 6:55 into the third period and then an even-strength goal nearly 10 minutes later for the game-winner Thursday against Nashville.
Analysis: Leino doesn't get the puck on net a ton, with just 80 shots this year, but he's put 13 of those through for markers for a (probably somewhat lucky) .163 shooting percentage. He's having a very good year on a very good team, contributing across some important fantasy categories.
News: Leino scored a goal and picked up an assist Sunday against the Rangers.
Analysis: Leino now has six points in his last four games, and playing in Philadelphia's high-powered offense he's really come into his own this season with 35 points in 45 games. He would make a good fantasy pickup if you can get him.
News: Leino assisted on each of the Flyers' first three goals Thursday in a win over New Jersey.
Analysis: He got the primary assist on all three, too, a very positive sign for Leino after an unimpressive month of December. If he's good for 60 points and the kind of plus-minus he's put together (plus-21 so far), that's an extremely valuable fantasy season.
News: Leino had a goal and an assist in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Sharks on Wednesday evening.
Analysis: While it was only Leino's 6th goal of the year, he is having a very solid fantasy season, with 22 points in 29 games and a plus-12 rating.
News: Despite missing practice Tuesday with an illness, Leino is expected to play Wednesday, according to Philly.com
Analysis: Leino was dealing with a fever and stomach cramps, but the Flyers have had a number of players have the same symptoms and still play. They expect Leino to do the same.
News: Leino ended a six-game scoring slump with a tally Monday in the win over Montreal.
Analysis: Leino had a good stretch of scoring earlier in the month, but had not lit the lamp for a bit before Monday. Leino's having a solid season, and managed four assists over those six games to compensate for his lack of goals.
News: The Flyers plan to meet with Leino's agent soon to discuss a contract extension.
Analysis: Leino is due to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end and the Flyers would like to lock him up before he hits the open market. If Leino continues to find success, however, he'll likely want to test the market this summer.
News: Leino scored his third goal of the season in Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to Washington.
Analysis: Leino is heating up with six points (1G, 5A) in his last six games and has 12 points (3G, 9A) in 15 games.
News: Leino scored Philadelphia's only goal in Monday's loss to Columbus, his second goal in as many games.
Analysis: Leino's an interesting player coming off a tremendous playoff run and will be given plenty of offensive opportunities. The goal gives him points in three consecutive games with goals in the last two.
Leino Suffers Minor Injury During Flyers' Practice
News: Leino collided with teammate Chris Pronger and suffered a minor thigh injury during practice on Friday, Philly.com reports.
Analysis: Leino termed the injury a charley horse and said he expected to play Saturday. He's nearly 100 percent back from a hip injury, and isn't likely to let a bruise keep him off the ice.
News: Leino (hip) has been fully cleared by the Flyers' training staff, according to Philly.com.
Analysis: Leino didn't play in the Flyers' preseason game on Tuesday, but he should be back in the lineup shortly.
News: Leino (hip) has yet to be cleared to participate in contact drills, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Analysis: It is unknown if Leino will participate in Philadelphia's preseason opener on Tuesday, but if he hasn't been cleared for contact yet then he likely won't suit up on Tuesday. He should be cleared within the week.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Flyers coach Peter Laviolette did not dress newcomer Ville Leino in the four games after the Flyers acquired him from Detroit.
Analysis: Perhaps Philadelphia is just looking to get Leino into shape and some extra practices before playing him because he hasn't played in a NHL game since Jan. 23. Leino, a former Finnish league standout, has offensive ability and could be a good fit for Laviolette's up-tempo style. However, he needs to be reserved in Fantasy until he cracks the lineup.
News: Detroit traded LW Ville Leino to the Flyers in return for D Ole-Kristian Tollefsen on Saturday.
Analysis: Leino has been a massive disappointment since coming to the NHL and the Red Wings apparently decided they had seen enough of the 26-year-old. He might still be worth owning in deeper long-term keeper leagues just in case he catches on in Philly, but most seasonal owners should continue to ignore him. Tollefsen has been injured more often than not over the last two seasons and has just two points in 18 games this campaign. He has little Fantasy value, if any.
News: MLive.com reports that Red Wings rookie LW Ville Leino, who has been a healthy scratch for six straight games, isn't worried about his status. "You can't really think about it," Leino said. "Obviously, it's crossed everybody's mind who's on the (bubble). It's going to happen if it's going to happen. Nothing you can do about it right now."
Analysis: Leino has just four goals, seven points and a minus-10 rating in 42 games this season, and might well find himself down in the AHL soon. The rookie's season Fantasy value is basically down to zero at this point, and long-term keeper owners have to be wondering if this guy is going to be a bust.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Red Wings LW Ville Leino returned to the lineup on Tuesdya against the Capitals after sitting out three games as a healthy scratch. He even logged time on the second power-play unit. Unfortunately, he had no points and a minus-1 rating.
Analysis: Leino has been a bust as a rookie, but coach Mike Babcock said the team will be patient with him. We really don't know what gives with Leino, who was such a strong addition to the lineup late last season. Leino remains a long-term Fantasy keeper until further notice.
News:Ville Leino's goal with 3:52 left broke a tie, and Darren Helm scored two short-handed goals to lift the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Leino, who has four goals this season, tipped Darren Meech's shot from the point out of the air. The goal stood up to a video review. It was his first goal since Nov. 11.
Analysis: Leino returned to the lineup on Thursday after sitting out a few games as a healthy scratch. The results were exactly what Detroit wanted and now they hope the talented winger can keep it up. Leino has been one of the biggest disappointments in Fantasy this season since everyone pegged him for a breakout campaign. He still has low-end Fantasy appeal until he goes on a breakout run.
News: According to The Sports Xchange, Red Wings RW Mattias Ritola, who was reassigned to Grand Rapids (AHL) after one game with the Wings last week, was recalled to play Monday at Columbus in place of healthy scratch Ville Leino. Ritola provided more speed and offensive potential than Leino has shown most of the season.
Analysis: Leino has managed only three goals and six points in 35 games and is also minus-9 on the year. Not the type of numbers Detroit or Fantasy owners were looking for after the Finnish forward burst onto the scene late in 2008-09. Detroit intend to count on Leino to help pick up the scoring slack for all the forwards they lost to injury and free agency, but that hasn't been the case. Leino has marginal Fantasy appeal until further notice, especially with him being a healthy scratch on Monday. Ritola will likely be back in the minors soon and has no Fantasy value at this time.
News:The Sports Xchange reports struggling Red Wings LW Ville Leino has played the last two games after being a healthy scratch the two previous games. The Wings have no choice but to play him since they have no healthy extra forwards. Coach Mike Babcock has made it clear to the rookie that he needs to battle harder, compete for pucks and show more grit in the offensive zone.
Analysis: Leino has managed only three goals and six points in 29 games and is also minus-8 on the year. Not the type of numbers Detroit or Fantasy owners were looking for after the Finnish forward burst onto the scene late in 2008-09. Detroit intend to count on Leino to help pick up the scoring slack for all the forwards they lost to injury and free agency, but that hasn't been the case. Leino has marginal Fantasy appeal until further notice.
News: Red Wings LW Ville Leino scored in Wednesday's rout of the Blue Jackets, two days after being promoted to a scoring line.
Analysis: Leino had been getting fewer than 12 minutes a game in his first three November games, but got 14:35 of ice time on Wednesday. Maybe he's ready to contribute for his owners in deeper leagues, but don't activate him just yet.
News: The Detroit Free Press reports Red Wings forward Ville Leino has been promoted to a scoring line with Daniel Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg. Leino will be filling in for Jason Williams, who is out at least eight weeks with a broken leg. "We'll see what happens," coach Mike Babcock said. "We think Ville's a real intelligent hockey player. He's played real well for us in the past. He's at a point his confidence isn't as good as it has been in the past. So he's gotta do his part, and we're going to try and help him out. Obviously, if you end up playing with Z and Clears, those are good players."
Analysis: Leino has two goals, one assist and is minus-4 in 14 games this season. He was even a healthy scratch at one point. He has been a huge disappointment in what many Fantasy players expected to be a breakout campaign. Perhpas this move to Zetterberg's line will spark the talented goal scorer. Consider Leino a sleeper in Fantasy formats.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Red Wings LW Ville Leino was a healthy scratch for the first time this season on Saturday against the Flames. The offensive-minded Leino has just two goals and one assist in 11 games and coach Mike Babcock said he has not been involved enough in the play. His game is to hold onto the puck in the offensive zone and go to the net.
Analysis: Leino has been a huge disappointment for Detroit. He was expected to challenge for the Calder Trophy (top rookie), but now he is just trying to stay out of the coach's doghouse. Maybe this will get the Finnish star on track since Detroit needs some scorers with Johan Franzen and Valterri Filppula on long-term injured reserve. Leino is merely a low-end Fantasy flier until further notice.
News:The Sports Xchange reports the Red Wings' only Finnish players, Ville Leino and Valtteri Filppula, have formed good chemistry playing on the same line. Leino scored his second goal of the season Saturday against the Capitals, and Filppula provided two assists. They complement each other well, as Leino likes to hang onto the puck down low in the offensive zone and go to the net, while Filppula prefers to set up teammates with his passing ability.
Analysis: Now that Johan Franzen is out several months with a knee injury, the Red Wings are going to look to Leino to help pick up the scoring slack. He has seven goals in 17 career NHL games, so he has proven he has a knack for scoring. Consider adding Leino in Fantasy as a sleeper.
News: Red Wings LW Ville Leino contributed a goal and took four shots during Friday's 4-3 loss to the Blues. Leino made it 3-1 for Detroit with a power-play goal in the second period. Unchecked, the Finnish forward sent a shot from the right circle past Chris Mason's glove side.
Analysis: The Red Wings are expecting great things from Leino in 2009-10. They need his scoring presence to help make up for the losses of Marian Hossa and Mikael Samuelsson, who both left in free agency. Leino has six goals in 14 NHL games, so he definitely has a knack for scoring. Consider him a Fantasy player on the rise. Grab him before it's too late.
News:The Sports Xchange reports the Red Wings are counting on skilled Finnish forward Ville Leino, 25, to help compensate for some of the offense it lost with the departures of Marian Hossa and Mikael Samuelsson. The club signed Leino to a two-year, $1.6 million contract on July 6. "We like his hockey sense, his ability to protect the puck in the offensive zone," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "He's got a scoring touch and he goes to the hard areas of the ice. He just needs to adjust to the pace of the game. He can play on a skilled line or chip in offense on the third line."
Analysis: Leino, who can play either wing, has good offensive instincts. He protects the puck well along the boards and in the corners and goes to the net. He was named Finland's top player in the regular season in 2007-08 but spent most of 2008-09 in Grand Rapids (AHL) due to Detroit's lack of salary-cap space. He had five goals, four assists and a plus-five rating in 13 games for the Wings during the regular season and no goals and two assists in seven playoff games. The fact Leino had time to adjust to the North American game in 2008-09 should help prepare him for what is expected to be his first full season in the NHL in 2009-10. Consider him a nice Fantasy sleeper Draft Day.
News: The Detroit Red Wings have signed free agent forward Ville Leino to a two-year deal. The team did not disclose terms Monday.
Analysis: The 25-year-old native of Savonlinna, Finland, appeared in 13 games for Detroit last season, posting five goals and four assists. Leino played in seven playoff games, notching two assists. He spent most of last season playing with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, posting 15 goals and 31 assists in 57 regular-season games. He had three goals and 10 assists in 10 playoff games with the Griffins. Because Detroit was so deep with talent last season, they were able to stick Leino in the AHL and let him adjust to the North American game. If they have a roster spot for him in 2009-10, Leino could do some serious damage. However, he remains more of a Fantasy sleeper Draft Day than must-have.
News: The Red Wings added some depth for what they hope will be a run toward another Stanley Cup. Detroit recalled forward Ville Leino from the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday, a day before hosting the Blue Jackets in Game 1 of their first-round series.
Analysis: The native of Savonlinna, Finland, scored five goals and had nine points in 13 games for the Red Wings this season. He had 15 goals and 46 points in 57 games with the Griffins. Leino signed with Detroit as a free agent last year after a 77-point season with Jokerit Helsinki in Finland. Leino is a long-term keeper after a decent showing with Detroit this season.
News: NHL.com reports the Red Wings made a bevy of roster moves Monday, including recalling prospect Jonathan Ericsson from Grand Rapids of the AHL. Aaron Downey has also been recalled from Grand Rapids, while Ville Leino and Darren Helm have been sent back down to the AHL level.
Analysis: It's not like Leino has been playing poorly since his recall from the AHL. He has five goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 13 games. This is simply a numbers game and we could very well see Leino back in the NHL shortly. He remains more of a low-end Fantasy flier and long-term keeper.
News: Detroit LW Ville Leino scored his fifth NHL goal in only 11 games on Wednesday against the Sharks. The goal proved to be the game-winner and came at even-strength midway through the first period.
Analysis: Leino has come on to the scene strong, with his first-ever NHL goal being an incredible one. He is looking like a player to watch for in the future and may be worth picking up in long-term keeper leagues. However, he is only a low-end option at the moment.
News: Red Wings LW Ville Leino scored a goal and finished at plus-1 during Thursday's game against the Wild. Leino made it 4-1 with 2:45 left in the second when he scored on a wraparound. It was his third goal in six games since his recall from Grand Rapids (AHL).
Analysis: Leino is getting an extended stay in the NHL with Tomas Holmstrom out 3-5 weeks with a hernia injury. Leino was playing well in the minors before his recall and the Finnish product has what it takes to be a force in the NHL. Still, he is more of a low-end Fantasy option since he appears to just be a scorer at this stage.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Red Wings LW Ville Leino scored his second goal in just his third NHL game Saturday against the Oilers. Tomas Holmstrom's injury (a groin injury that will keep him out 3-5 weeks) allows the club to keep Leino around longer than anticipated.
Analysis: The problem all season for Detroit was finding consistent minutes for Leino, hence the reason he spent most of the year in the minors. Now that Holmstrom is on IR, Leino could be a regular for the next month. He is already making an impact with two goals, but Leino is still a low-end Fantasy option for the time being.
News: Red Wings LW Ville Leino marked his first NHL game with one of the best goals of the season Saturday in a loss to the Capitals. Leino took a pass from Pavel Datsyuk down the left wing, spun around and backed toward the goal, then slipped a backhander past Jose Theodore when neither Theodore nor Alexander Semin delivered a check.
Analysis: The 25-year-old Leino is second on the Grand Rapids Griffins in scoring with 37 points in 44 games and had six points in eight preseason games for Detroit, which signed him as a free agent on May 10. Leino has played professionally in Finland, but Detroit just doesn't have much playing time for his right now. He could be back in the minors shortly, but if he impresses in his short stint, Leino could stick around. He is more of a long-term Fantasy keeper.
News: The Detroit Red Wings recalled forwards Ville Leino and Aaron Downey from Grand Rapids of the AHL and placed defenseman Brad Stuart on injured reserve Thursday. Stuart, who has an injured rib, will miss a minimum of one week.
Analysis: The 25-year-old Leino is second on the Griffins in scoring with 37 points in 44 games. He had six points in eight preseason games for Detroit, which signed him as a free agent on May 10. Leino has played professionally in Finland, but Detroit just doesn't have much playing time for his right now. He could be back in the minors shortly, but if he impresses in his short stint, Leino could stick around. He is more of a long-term Fantasy keeper.
News: Red Wings left wing prospect Ville Leino has two goals and six assists in 11 January games for Grand Rapids of the AHL. For the season, he has 10 goals, 26 assists and an even rating in 42 games.
Analysis: Leino has been recalled a few times this season by the Red Wings, but since they can't offer the Finnish import top-six time, they feel he is best suited to develop in the minors. He appears to be doing just fine, but until he is up in the NHL he is nothing more than a long-term Fantasy keeper.
News: Red Wings LW prospect Ville Leino had a goal, assist and a plus-1 rating for Grand Rapids (AHL) during a 5-1 win Wednesday against Syracuse. He has one goal and two assists in five December games. Leino has posted 23 points (five goals) in 25 games.
Analysis: Leino has been recalled a few times this season by the Red Wings, but since they can't offer the Finnish import top-six time, they feel he is best suited to develop in the minors. He appears to be doing just fine, but until he is up in the NHL he is nothing more than a long-term Fantasy keeper.
News: Red Wings LW prospect Ville Leino continues to bid his time in the minors with Grand Rapids of the AHL. He has four goals and 12 assists in 12 games.
Analysis: Leino was recalled earlier this season when Johan Franzen hurt his knee, but never made his debut and was sent back to the minors. He is in his first season of North American hockey after spending the last six seasons in Finland. The 6-0, 182-pound winger has been tearing it up in the AHL, but Detroit just has no use for him at this time. Leino remains just a long-term Fantasy keeper.
News: Red Wings forward Johan Franzen will be out for three to four weeks because of a sprained left knee, the team said Sunday. The Detroit left winger damaged the medial collateral ligament during the second period of Saturday night's 6-5 shootout win over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Red Wings recalled left wing Ville Leino from Grand Rapids of the AHL.
Analysis: Leino is in his first season of North American hockey after spending the last six seasons in Finland. The 6-0, 182-pound winger has been tearing it up in the AHL with four goals and six points in four games. Franzen's injury could mean a long look for Leino. Consider him a decent long-term keeper and someone to keep an eye on in Fantasy over the next few weeks.
News: The Red Wings have assigned D Jonathan Ericsson and F Ville Leino to Grand Rapids (AHL).
Analysis: Ericsson is a solid defensive prospect who should have a nice season in the AHL and could find himself called up at some point. He's only worth owning in deeper keeper formats, however. Leino should also have a nice future in the NHL, but is not a seasonal Fantasy league option right now with the way Detroit is stacked.
News: Rookie forward Ville Leino scored his first goal in the Detroit Red Wings' 4-0 victory against the Atlanta Thrashers in an NHL exhibition Sunday. Leino's first goal gave Detroit a 1-0 lead with 3:39 left in the first period. Leino went to the net and jammed in the rebound of Darren Helm's pass attempt when it bounced off Atlanta goalie Kari Lehtonen's pads into the crease. Leino said his coaches have told him to "go straight and always go fast forward and go to the net. You don't have so much time. ... You just got to go to the net and shoot more and put it on the net."
Analysis: Leino, from Finland, signed as a free agent during the offseason. He is battling with Darren McCarty, Aaron Downey and Helm for the final forward spot on the Stanley Cup champions' roster. Leino has impressed with his ability to stick handle and pass the puck, but he's working on his quickness and the ability to play in traffic. Coach Mike Babcock said Leino has the ability. "He can hold onto the puck. That goal shows you have to go to the net. He's an NHL player," Babcock said. "You can make all of those nice plays. But it's just fluff if it's all on the outside and not on the inside." Even if Leino makes the roster, he will be nothing more than a lower-line forward. Ignore him in Fantasy until further notice.
