'Ville' good guy ?

by Matt 'Puckhead' on Jul 2, 2011 12:17 PM EDT

Thank you Ville Leino. I appreciated your brief stay here in Philadelphia as a Flyer. The 2010 playoff run you had was great! You had a pretty good 2010-2011 season and really fit in well on a line with Briere and Hartnell.

A few months ago, I thought that you were really being a good team player when you did not sign an extention, which allowed the Flyers to trade to get Kris Versteeg in an attempt to solidify the lineup for another run at the cup. However, in retrospect, it kinda seems that you were instead making a schrewd business decision. One that worked out exceptionally for you when you were rewarded with what appears now to be a more than generous contract.

I hope all works out well for you in Buffalo, but not too well in the playoffs and obviously not well anytime you play the Flyers.

Does anyone else get the impression that Ville was not totally being a 'team-player' when he did not sign an extention? (he must have a really good agent!!)

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Does anyone else get the impression that Ville was not totally being a ‘team-player’

No, I don’t think so. He seemed genuine in his desire to help the team get better, at risk to his own future. It worked out very well for him, but he could have been injured, or had some other issue that would have limited his value going forward.

si vis Stanley Cup, para bellum

by daddydoc on Jul 2, 2011 1:55 PM EDT reply actions

I think people give Leino too much credit for letting the Flyers get Versteeg. When it was obvious that they were having trouble coming to terms.

What can't Giroux do?

by tmurder on Jul 2, 2011 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

Leino likes the high life, very much. From the handful of interviews here and elsewhere, you can tell. He wanted to get paid, my feeling (just a feeling) is that his demands and the Flyers’ offers were pretty much always the same, and never really any closer than they were lately.

I’m happy for Ville that he got his payday, but he can be replaced for less money and not be missed terribly in a hockey way (ie, with a better 2-way winger).

He’ll do some damage offensively for the Sabres but he’s still the same guy who had to be sheltered defensively.

by Georgia_Flyer on Jul 2, 2011 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

don’t get me wrong. i’ve always liked Leino. but these past few months it just seemed like all he was after was the money. it was especially apparent to me in this article from a few months ago.

i think he’s talented hockey player, but he just got a litle bit too greedy.
As for the whole Kris Versteeg business…well at the time i was like “Aw that’s so nice!” but now i’m questioning it a little bit.

"Everyone wants to be THAT guy, but not everyone is willing to put himself, or knows how to put himself in that situation. A big part of it is not being afraid...of the moment, of falling." - Danny Briere

by ForTheLoveOfBob on Jul 2, 2011 4:03 PM EDT reply actions

well he’s not a young kid. this is essentially his only shot at making big bucks. can’t fault him for that.

http://restorations.bandcamp.com/

by Val_d'Or on Jul 3, 2011 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d rather have a player that cares about his team, the game, and his fans rather than the money. i understand where you’re coming from, but even he should know that he’s not worth the kind of money he was asking for.

by ForTheLoveOfBob on Jul 4, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d rather have a player that cares about his team, the game, and his fans rather than the money.

Then you’re in for a rude awakening. Most athletes care more about the money. Playing hockey and winning are great and all, but money is all that matters at the end of the day.

What can't Giroux do?

by tmurder on Jul 4, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, you have a point. but i still think Ville Leino went way overboard with the kind of money he was asking for. at least keep your greediness a little bit more subtle.

by ForTheLoveOfBob on Jul 4, 2011 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Even though he got 50% more than the Flyers offered him? Is it greedy to know your market value?

Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999 and Matt Calvert since May 2010
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
SB Nation Philly - Associate Editor

by Geoff Detweiler on Jul 6, 2011 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

No, no. You’re right.
If you haven’t noticed already, i really don’t know what i’m talking about.
But i guess i sort of just have this idea in my head that players play for their team and not themselves. Which is wrong.

by ForTheLoveOfBob on Jul 6, 2011 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Okay. haha

Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999 and Matt Calvert since May 2010
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
SB Nation Philly - Associate Editor

by Geoff Detweiler on Jul 6, 2011 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I hate when it’s called greed. If a competitor to my current employer offered me 50% more money to do the same exact job I’d be gone without hesitation.

Athletes are held to a strict sense of loyalty, but teams aren’t loyal. Ask Richards, Carter, or someone like Chris Drury whether they feel that their employer was loyal. I assume Leino did not make a stink when he was not resigned during the season — I think that’s all we can ask of him. He was a free agent per the league rules, and took advantage of that status.

In addition, some people might believe that Buffalo has stronger cup chances than Philly (I don’t, but I’m sure some do). The argument that “it’s all about the money” can’t even be made.

by VilleWonka on Jul 6, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

You’re right, I see that now.
I just hate how one sided the loyalty gets to be. But if it wasn’t like this, i’m sure the NHL would be chaos.

by ForTheLoveOfBob on Jul 6, 2011 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

he had one good playoff run as did the whole team that year and now he thinks he can walk on water.

i think i read somewhere that he’s going to be the new 2nd line center in Buffalo. Did he play center in Detroit, I don’t know why they think he’s capable of that.

by B-minus19 on Jul 3, 2011 8:37 PM EDT reply actions

I think he will disappoint in Buffalo like Versteeg did in Toronto. He had that good playoff showing (after a shitty reg season) and then followed it up by a decent year last year… but not great! He is going to score about 20 goals and maybe set up 30 in his best seasons in the NHL but he acts like a 50 goal scorer. I liked his chemistry with Danny and Hartsy, but good riddance!

Ville if you read this call me and we can play guitar together sometime.

It's a hockey, you know. it's only... it's only game. Why you heff to be mad?

by Philly4Cup on Jul 4, 2011 2:51 AM EDT reply actions