Grading the 2010 Flyers: Ville Leino

by Travis Hughes on Aug 7, 2010 9:39 AM EDT in Philadelphia Flyers Season Grades

Grade: B+

09/10 Salary: $775,000

10/11 Cap Hit: $800,000

10/11 Salary: $825,000

Linemates: 34.77% Danny Briere and Simon Gagne

Depth Chart Ranking: #2 Right Wing

[ Broad Street Hockey Player Page ]

[ Hockey Database Player Page ]

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	GWG	MsS	TOI/G	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ville Leino	55	6	5	11	-8	10	1	2	49	13:05	77	7.8

	TOI/60	QualComp	QualTeam	G/60	PTS/60	GFON/60	GAON/60	OZS%	Fen%	Cor%	PTake/60	PDraw/60
AdvancedStats	11.42	-0.030	-0.093	0.48	0.86	1.82	2.67	56.2	0.590	0.591	0.4	0.8

If you're judging Ville Leino's season by the actual season part, you're not going to get a very positive response. Of course, Leino spent most of the year with the Detroit Red Wings, and if you mention Leino's name to fans in the Motor City, you're probably going to get some response in between "didn't fulfill his outstanding potential" to "he f***ing sucks."

Then again, if you ask a Red Wings fan who watched the playoffs what they think of Leino, they'll probably respond something like "we only got OK Tollefsen for this guy?"

Ville's days in orange and black this season were, as we all know, a completely different story than his days in red, where he ultimately became a throw away when a superstar was ready to return from injury.

Sure, it took awhile for Leino to make something of his days with the Flyers. He sat in the press box for a good bit of time, and even sat in favor of Riley Cote in one crucial April game against the Rangers. He voiced his frustration that night, but a few days later when the Flyers snuck into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth, all would soon be forgotten.

The Artist Formerly Known As Ville Leino morphed into Big Ville Style during the playoffs, putting together the most impressive rookie playoff run this city has ever seen. Sure, he's 26 and has played in two Cup Finals, and he's still considered a rookie. But nevertheless, Leino's 21 points in 19 2010 playoff games will go down in Flyers lore.

More importantly, perhaps, he developed exciting chemistry with Scott Hartnell and Danny Briere in the postseason, helping the former to break out of a season-long slump and helping the latter solidify his reputation as a playoff workhorse. As the new season dawns in two months time, the chemistry formed between these players during the Flyers exciting playoff run hopes to continue.

If that happens, Leino and his $800k cap hit could prove to be one of the best bargains in the NHL.

Poll

How would you grade Ville Leino's 2010 season?

A

307 votes

B

206 votes

C

27 votes

D

2 votes

F

1 votes

543 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 27 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I’m grading Ville Leino as a Flyer only that’s why if there was an A+ I’d give him that. The only problem I had with him is that Peter sat him for so long. I thought it was a great trade when it happened, I mean c’mon, OKT for a European Red Wing that was drafted by them!? Steal of the year. He’s now become one of my favorite players.

Flyers Fans: We've survived Lock-outs, Lindros and Cooperalls. If you want to get rid of us, you'll have to split an atom or two.

by KreiderDesigns on Aug 7, 2010 9:44 AM EDT reply actions

I remember watching last years playoffs of Redwings vs Pens and Leino’s name stood out to me so much during that series. Even the announcers from it were stunned at the work he was doing. When I heard we acquired him, I immediately though back to those playoff moments and get excited.

by jewbilee on Aug 7, 2010 9:57 AM EDT reply actions

For the time he spent with the Flyers and the performance he gave, you can only give him an A. Can’t wait to see what he does this year.

by SkookFlyerfan on Aug 7, 2010 10:04 AM EDT reply actions

Leino get an A for his playoffs and that he got OKT out of town

stealing man purses since 2010

by steve v on Aug 7, 2010 10:19 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t think I’ve ever seen his name written as OK Tollefson. Its either OKT or Ole-Kristian Tollefson. Eitherway I’m glad he’s gone.

I think B+ is generous considering how his time with the Red Wings but its possible if he was given the same opportunities he probably would have played better.

by tmurder on Aug 7, 2010 10:33 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

his name is never said OK Tollefson because hes not ok hes terrible

stealing man purses since 2010

by steve v on Aug 7, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Jim Jackson always said “OK Tollefsen.”

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Aug 7, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

True I guess it happened so rarely that I forgot.

by tmurder on Aug 7, 2010 5:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Three words people

“BIG VILLE STYLE”

Enough said!

Just Call Me "M"!

by MJDII on Aug 7, 2010 10:57 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I demand a Big Ville Style t-shirt!

by Parduno on Aug 8, 2010 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions

SCF Hoodies?

Seeing Ville don that nasty hoodie reminds me of before game one they showed the entire team walking around the arena in those sweatshirts. Does anyone know if they’re for sale anywhere? I looked before, but couldn’t find THOSE hoodies. Any advice would be appreciated!

by brf132 on Aug 7, 2010 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

I asked during the playoff run and someone checked out the in-arena stores for me. They said they only saw Prongs and Richie ones and they were 65 bucks.

Flyers Fans: We've survived Lock-outs, Lindros and Cooperalls. If you want to get rid of us, you'll have to split an atom or two.

by KreiderDesigns on Aug 7, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

by brf132 on Aug 7, 2010 4:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

They have the t-shirts on shop.NHL.com… But not the hoodies in the “locker room” style. Rats…

by brf132 on Aug 7, 2010 4:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Yep that was me. I still have a picture on my cell if you want me to throw it up on here. I wasn’t a big fan of having the name and number on the back of the hoodie though.

Is this the right room for an argument?

by DLJr on Aug 9, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

After watching the playoffs I couldn’t rank him anything lower than an A. I may be biased but I was pretty upset he wasn’t in more discussions for playoff MVP.

by 02h32m01s on Aug 7, 2010 12:03 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

A+ and here’s why:

He made the absolute most of the opportunity he was given. I can’t imagine how hard it is to perform at that high of a level, in the playoffs no less when you spent the previous two months riding the pine. And lastly, his playoff beard was the stuff of legend.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 7, 2010 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

A+

If he done absolutely nothing, his playoff beard alone would have earned him a B+ from me. Add in 21 points in 19 games, he gets a A++++++ from me all the way.

by edbro on Aug 7, 2010 3:29 PM EDT reply actions

He was very important to our team this offseason and for that he should get an A+.

I’d give more of an A- because he didn’t do much during the season (not a knock on him, more likely just him not being used enough and in the right way, glad we figured that out in the playoffs). I am looking forward to having him for an entire season on a line which killed in the playoffs and will probably do so during the regular season.

I just hope we can keep him after next season…

#1 Flyers Fan in New York

Good bye #12, you will always bleed Orange and Black.

by Lindbergh 31 on Aug 7, 2010 4:18 PM EDT reply actions

There are actually one vote

a piece for D and F….huh?

Upon moving to AL, I let my wife decide who she would root for. After one day at a new job full of Bama fans, she met me at the door with a hearty cry of "WAR EAGLE"

by SandMountainTiger on Aug 7, 2010 5:37 PM EDT reply actions

Either a Boston or Habs fan hating.

"Want a donut go to dunkin donuts, want a linebacker go to Penn State."
- Cris Carter, NFL Draft, 4/25/09

twitter: @princessblueezy

by kmblue on Aug 7, 2010 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions

He gets an A for “The Shift”

"As long as there's sex and drugs, I can do without the Rock N Roll"
Mick Shrimpton

by stubborne on Aug 7, 2010 5:38 PM EDT reply actions

B

He was average during the regular season.

Backing Backlund for 2010-2011
Mourning Gagne forever.

by ToddtheFox on Aug 7, 2010 8:31 PM EDT reply actions

His stickhandling skills are sick, I am certainly looking forward to full season with plenty of opportunity for him. We should see if a change in scenary is all he needed.

by Crosby sucks on Aug 7, 2010 8:45 PM EDT reply actions

I gave him an A

I only graded on his time as a Flyer, and it was mostly based on the playoffs, but I remember reading an interview with Lavi before the playoffs where he said he wanted to put Leino in the lineup but there wasn’t room for him. He was amazed that the other Flyers were having a hard time getting the puck away from Leino in practice. I just don’t understand why he didn’t sit Hartnell in place of Leino when this was going on, but I’m not coach so I just sit and watch. Leino should be very interesting to watch this season and I think Detroit gave up on him too soon. He had 46 pts in 57AHL games and 9 pts in 13 NHL games in 08-09, very nice stats in European leagues before that, and I think maybe he just didn’t click or something else was going on in Detroit last year. I still think Homer is dumb as a doorknob but trading for Leino was a steal. A+ on the trade too.

by Kanayd on Aug 7, 2010 9:00 PM EDT reply actions

Can't Wait!

I gave him an A. Injuries to the Flyers gave him his chance on the ice and he more than proved his worth. He made Hartnell and Briere look like all stars out there. I can’t wait to see what he’ll do with a full season under his belt giving Lav keeps that line together. I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t but hey, I’m not the coach either. Since Lupul was traded, Hartnell basically took a dump and Briere, while talented and shows up for the big games, was almost a non-factor in the regular season. Leino was the key to that line’s success in the playoffs.

by eparico72 on Aug 8, 2010 3:55 PM EDT reply actions