Everybody is getting paid this free agent year, and Ville Leino is no different. After failing to agree to terms on a four year, $12 million offer from the Philadelphia Flyers, Leino jumped out of the free agent plane and came down with a huge six year, $27 million from the Buffalo Sabres.
Ville Leino Gets Paid, Signs Six Year Deal With Buffalo Sabres
Leino, the 27-year old native of Finland, was toiling away in obscurity back in the 2009-10 season with the Detroit Red Wings. A late season trade brought him to the Philadelphia Flyers, and on a line with Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell, Leino turned into a hero in Philly's run to the Stanley Cup Final.
The same chemistry with those two linemates wasn’t really there in the 2010-11 season, but Leino still managed to put up 19 goals and 34 assists in 81 games with the Flyers this past regular season. Flyers fans learned that he’s quite the one-dimensional player, as he started over 60 percent of his shifts in the offensive end of the ice, unable to be trusted with defensive zone minutes.
That’s why the money seems so high. Leino can score and has some of the best hands in the game, but that’s all he can do. Will it be worth it to the Sabres? It seems like any price is worth it to new owner Terry Pegula.
For more on the Sabres, check in with Die By The Blade.
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