New installment in the section on Finnish players in the NHL. It was the premiere looking slightly Valtteri Filppula situation and today, taking advantage of approaching the American League playoffs, I picked a player who was essential to his team last year in the post-season. I'm talking about Ville Leino.
Not all players operate at an early age or blunt at the lower levels of equipment more than their peers. Leino is one of those players that went unnoticed for several years even in the league in his country, but which, today, is an irreplaceable member of one of the candidate teams to take the Stanley Cup, Philadelphia Flyers. Leino
began in SAPK, the team of his native Savonlinna, although in 2002 he joined the junior team Ilves, one of the best quarries in the country. In Tampere he remained until 2005 when, after a mediocre season with the first team, he went to try their luck in HPK, where he made a paper right enough to earn a spot on Jokerit of the 2007-2008 season would be his best season and which would earn him a spot in the NHL. Without going through the Draft, Leino signed as free agent by Detroit Red Wings, coinciding with Filppula. But not everything was like every player he sees in his dreams. His first year in Detroit was a test and spent most of the time with the AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, and his second season looked to be rather disastrous. In the Red Wings played little and was in line without any role, so the key of his career came when the franchise transferred to the Finnish Detroit Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and a 5th round. In
Flyers started with little activity, but reached the playoffs and everything changed. To talk a little about this great time I could count on the cooperation of other partner Hockey Territory, Guille, better known as Billy, a follower of Philadelphia Flyers.
P - Can we talk about Leino as one of the big business in Philadelphia in recent years? I took a 5 th round and a player like Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, it seems that is not going to have a successful NHL career.
R - Yes, it was a big deal. Tollefsen does not serve to bring water bottles and I think everyone would agree with me that would transfer a 5 th round by a player of quality Ville Leino.
P - In Detroit was a big disappointment, but the Flyers took the first opportunity. Why do you think that Leino could not excel in the Red Wings and another in Philadelphia?
R - I think Leino is the typical player who shines in a Top-6 and not in the Bottom-6. The Detroit system with new players tend to be: have them in the minors, then upload and then to be playing minutes gradually. Leino probably not well adapted to the role played few minutes in the 3 rd and 4 th line there, and in Philadelphia when given the opportunity to play many minutes in the Top-6 shined.
P - Despite entering the device by Simon Low Gagne and Jeff Carter, Leino was part of the most powerful line of the playoffs and managed to equal the record for points scored by a rookie in the post-season (7 +14 = 21).
R - Yeah, this line worked great. Helped us get to achieve the epic comeback in the tie against Boston and of course have more opportunities to achieve the coveted Stanley Cup against Chicago.
Q - What do you think is your greatest strength?
R - No doubt his vision. Not that stand out especially to have some unusual qualities, but always known to be in the right place at the right time. Is a player that if you give minutes can help with many points for the team, especially in the section assists.
P - This season seems to be confirmed and you go 43 points *, plus a superb section of +14 in the + / -. Some striking numbers for a player who will be facing UFA next season and we assume that demand more of the 800 thousand dollars that currently charged. Given that the Flyers are very tight in the salary cap, do you see threatening the continuity of the Finn on the team?
R - I think not. Already there have been many contacts between the agent and the team, and look set to reach a renewal of the 2-3 million dollars. Let's hope so.
A salute to the forum Hockey Territory, aka Billy
Guille
* Statistics from the date of the interview. Currently has 47 points (17 +30) and +15.
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