Ville Leino
Encyclopedia
Ville Leino is a Finnish professional ice hockey
forward
who plays for the Buffalo Sabres
of the National Hockey League
(NHL).
in the Suomi-sarja
. He was recruited into the SM-liiga
by Ilves
, and later moved on to HPK
, where he led the team in scoring in the 2005-06 season when HPK won their first SM-liiga championship.
In 2007, Leino was signed by Jokerit
where he was switched from center to wing. In his first season with the team, he broke the club record for most points in the regular season when he surpassed Timo Sutinen's record of 73. He went on to finish second in scoring, and won the Lasse Oksanen trophy
for the best player during the regular season in the SM-liiga.
. Due to the Wings salary cap issues, Leino was then assigned to affiliate the Grand Rapids Griffins
of the AHL
. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock
commented that Leino was the "best player" he had ever sent to the minors. Ville was eventually recalled from the Griffins on January 29, 2009.
In the first period of his NHL debut on January 31, 2009, Leino scored a goal against goaltender José Théodore
in a 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals
. Leino is one of the few players that have scored a goal in their first NHL appearance.
Leino signed a one-way, two-year extension with the Red Wings on July 6, 2009.
On February 6, 2010, Ville Leino was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers
in exchange for Norwegian defenceman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen
and a 5th-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft
. Leino had two goals and two assists in fourteen games with the Flyers in the regular season.
Leino started the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs
in the press box, but injuries to Simon Gagné
and Jeff Carter
called Leino into action. Forming the most potent line in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with Daniel Brière
and Scott Hartnell
, Leino recorded seven goals and fourteen assists for 21 points in 19 games. This tied the rookie record for most points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs held by Dino Ciccarelli
.
On March 12, 2011, Leino recorded his first career hat-trick
against the Atlanta Thrashers
.
On April 24, 2011, during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against Buffalo, Leino scored the game winning goal in overtime of game 6 of the series to bring Philadelphia even with Buffalo, 3 games to 3. He finished the playoffs with three goals and two assists as the Flyers were swept in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins
.
Leino became an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2011 season. He signed a 6 year contract with the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, 2011 worth $27 million.
on the 2006–07 Euro Hockey Tour
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
who plays for the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL).
Finland
Leino started playing hockey at age 17 for his hometown team SaPKoSaPKo
Savonlinnan Pallokerho is an ice hockey team from Savonlinna, Finland, playing in the Mestis league. It plays its home matches in Talvisalon jäähalli.The sports club Savonlinnan Pallokerho was founded in 1929...
in the Suomi-sarja
Suomi-sarja
The Suomi-sarja is Finland's third-highest ice hockey league. Suomi-sarja has 4 divisions. Suomi-sarja has been played since the 1999-2000 season. Prior to this, Finland's third league had been Division II since 1975 and before that the Provincial Series since 1947. During the 1990s the series also...
. He was recruited into the SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
by Ilves
Ilves
Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä...
, and later moved on to HPK
HPK
HPK is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Hämeenlinna, Finland at the Hämeenlinnan jäähalli. HPK was established in 1929. The full name of the club is HPK-Edustusjääkiekko Ry and the team is sometimes promoted as the "Hockey Playing Knights", with the logo representing a knight...
, where he led the team in scoring in the 2005-06 season when HPK won their first SM-liiga championship.
In 2007, Leino was signed by Jokerit
Jokerit
Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
where he was switched from center to wing. In his first season with the team, he broke the club record for most points in the regular season when he surpassed Timo Sutinen's record of 73. He went on to finish second in scoring, and won the Lasse Oksanen trophy
Lasse Oksanen trophy
The Lasse Oksanen trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best player of the season during regular season play.Trophy winners:1948-49: Unto Wiitala 1953-54: Unto Wiitala...
for the best player during the regular season in the SM-liiga.
North America
On May 10, 2008, Leino signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. Due to the Wings salary cap issues, Leino was then assigned to affiliate the Grand Rapids Griffins
Grand Rapids Griffins
The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League....
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock
Mike Babcock
Michael "Mike" Babcock, Jr. is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League and former player. He serves as head coach of the Red Wings. He also served as the head coach of Team Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver...
commented that Leino was the "best player" he had ever sent to the minors. Ville was eventually recalled from the Griffins on January 29, 2009.
In the first period of his NHL debut on January 31, 2009, Leino scored a goal against goaltender José Théodore
José Théodore
José Théodore is a French Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League...
in a 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. Leino is one of the few players that have scored a goal in their first NHL appearance.
Leino signed a one-way, two-year extension with the Red Wings on July 6, 2009.
On February 6, 2010, Ville Leino was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in exchange for Norwegian defenceman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen is a Norwegian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Modo in Elitserien.Tollefsen was selected to play for the Norway men's national ice hockey team at the 2010 Winter Olympics....
and a 5th-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft
2011 NHL Entry Draft
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the 49th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the Draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars hosted the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.The top three picks consisted...
. Leino had two goals and two assists in fourteen games with the Flyers in the regular season.
Leino started the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2010 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 14, 2010, after the 2009–10 NHL regular season. The Finals ended on June 9, 2010, with the Chicago Blackhawks defeating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to two to win their fourth championship and their first since 1961...
in the press box, but injuries to Simon Gagné
Simon Gagné
Simon Gagné is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League . Prior to Los Angeles, he spent the first 10 seasons of his NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers and another with the Tampa Bay Lightning.Drafted out of the Quebec Major Junior...
and Jeff Carter
Jeff Carter
Jeff Carter is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League...
called Leino into action. Forming the most potent line in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with Daniel Brière
Daniel Brière
Daniel "Danny" Brière is a French Canadian professional ice hockey centre and an alternate captain for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . He has previously played with the Phoenix Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres...
and Scott Hartnell
Scott Hartnell
Scott Hartnell is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Leino recorded seven goals and fourteen assists for 21 points in 19 games. This tied the rookie record for most points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs held by Dino Ciccarelli
Dino Ciccarelli
.Dino Ciccarelli is a Canadian former professional hockey player who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League, primarily with the Minnesota North Stars. He scored 1,200 points in his NHL career. His 608 career NHL goals are also the most goals scored by a draft-eligible player who was not...
.
On March 12, 2011, Leino recorded his first career hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
against the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
.
On April 24, 2011, during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against Buffalo, Leino scored the game winning goal in overtime of game 6 of the series to bring Philadelphia even with Buffalo, 3 games to 3. He finished the playoffs with three goals and two assists as the Flyers were swept in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
.
Leino became an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2011 season. He signed a 6 year contract with the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, 2011 worth $27 million.
International play
Leino made his international debut on Team FinlandFinnish national men's ice hockey team
The Finnish men's national ice hockey team, or Leijonat / Lejonen , as it is called in Finland, is governed by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association...
on the 2006–07 Euro Hockey Tour
Euro Hockey Tour
The Euro Hockey Tour is an annual ice hockey tournament only open to the national men's teams of the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, and Sweden. Most of the teams use the competition as a preparation for the upcoming World Championships or Olympics, allowing less experienced players to collect...
.
Awards
- SM-liigaSM-liigaThe SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
- All-Star 2006 and 2008 - SM-liigaSM-liigaThe SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
- player of the month, January 2006 and October 2007 - SM-liigaSM-liigaThe SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
- Lasse Oksanen trophyLasse Oksanen trophyThe Lasse Oksanen trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best player of the season during regular season play.Trophy winners:1948-49: Unto Wiitala 1953-54: Unto Wiitala...
for best player of the regular season, 2008
Records
- NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
- most points in the Stanley Cup PlayoffsStanley Cup playoffsThe Stanley Cup playoffs is an elimination tournament in the National Hockey League consisting of four rounds of best-of-seven series. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records...
by a rookie (20102010 Stanley Cup playoffsThe 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 14, 2010, after the 2009–10 NHL regular season. The Finals ended on June 9, 2010, with the Chicago Blackhawks defeating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to two to win their fourth championship and their first since 1961...
) (tied with Dino CiccarelliDino Ciccarelli.Dino Ciccarelli is a Canadian former professional hockey player who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League, primarily with the Minnesota North Stars. He scored 1,200 points in his NHL career. His 608 career NHL goals are also the most goals scored by a draft-eligible player who was not...
) - NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
- most assists in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by a rookie (2010) - NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
- most assists in the Stanley Cup FinalsStanley Cup FinalsThe Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the professional club championship of ice hockey. Although the Cup itself has existed since 1893, an annual championship series between professional teams was not established until 1913...
by a rookie (2010)
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2000–01 | SaPKo SaPKo Savonlinnan Pallokerho is an ice hockey team from Savonlinna, Finland, playing in the Mestis league. It plays its home matches in Talvisalon jäähalli.The sports club Savonlinnan Pallokerho was founded in 1929... |
Suomi-sarja Suomi-sarja The Suomi-sarja is Finland's third-highest ice hockey league. Suomi-sarja has 4 divisions. Suomi-sarja has been played since the 1999-2000 season. Prior to this, Finland's third league had been Division II since 1975 and before that the Provincial Series since 1947. During the 1990s the series also... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | SaPKo | Suomi-sarja | 15 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
SM-l SM-liiga The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice... |
23 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Ilves | SM-l | 54 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2004–05 | Ilves | SM-l | 56 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 32 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2005–06 | HPK HPK HPK is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Hämeenlinna, Finland at the Hämeenlinnan jäähalli. HPK was established in 1929. The full name of the club is HPK-Edustusjääkiekko Ry and the team is sometimes promoted as the "Hockey Playing Knights", with the logo representing a knight... |
SM-l | 56 | 12 | 31 | 43 | 65 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 4 | ||
| 2006–07 | HPK | SM-l | 50 | 11 | 29 | 40 | 73 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 31 | ||
| 2007–08 | Jokerit Jokerit Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships... |
SM-l | 55 | 28 | 49 | 77 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 8 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 AHL season The 2008–09 AHL season is the 73rd season of the American Hockey League. 29 teams each played 80 games in the regular season, which ran from October 8 until April 12.-Team and NHL affiliation changes:... |
Grand Rapids Griffins Grand Rapids Griffins The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League.... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
57 | 15 | 31 | 46 | 18 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 10 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... |
NHL | 13 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 42 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 13 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 6 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 81 | 19 | 34 | 53 | 22 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | ||
| SM-l totals | 294 | 69 | 136 | 205 | 214 | 49 | 14 | 30 | 44 | 49 | ||||
| NHL totals | 149 | 30 | 43 | 73 | 38 | 37 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 6 | ||||
| AHL totals | 57 | 15 | 31 | 46 | 18 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 10 | ||||