The Leino "Dilemma"

I guess will get this out of the way right off of the bat. Were Sabres center Ville Leino making $3M per year instead of $4.5M, fans wouldn't be so harsh, nor would they rush to judgement after only five regular season games.

On paper, in the preseason and over in Finland, Leino with Tyler Ennis on left wing seemed like a very good fit. In fact a lot of things look good on paper, and most go awry, as is the case here.

After an incredibly slow start which saw Leino score the game winner vs. Anaheim in his native country the opener, but fail to register a point in the following four games, Leino has found himself on the "fourth" line with his minutes cut extensively. Ennis who is coming off of a 20-goal/49-point season, has yet to register a point in five games.

All of this leads to Leino, the topic of conversation on WGR's Howard Simon Show today. And they turned to beat reporter Paul Hamilton for some insight.

Hamilton went back to a piece he did the day before, about how Leino said that it took him a while in Philadelphia and that "it's always different with the teams."

He also hinted, at his unease with the defensive responsibilities at the center positon and that a move back to wing might click his offense in gear. Not to mention that he feels he'd be better on the powerplay so that he'd get more minutes and get into a more offensive flow.

Wow.

All of this directed at a team coached by Lindy Ruff, a coach, as shown in the past, that doles out ice-time based upon effective play. Ruff, as well, expects at least as much passion on a backcheck as he does on the attack in the offensive zone.

So now, as Hamilton pointed out, they're in a Catch-22. Or even a chicken/egg scenario. Will Ruff allow Leino more playing time to work through it? Or will Leino heed the system and get on his horse for 60 minutes?

Somebody needs to pound it into Leino's head that Ruff's as stubborn as a mule. Get on the backcheck, move your feet and let your energy transfer from defense to offense. It works.

Right now, Ruff has Leino between Cody McCormick and fellow-underachiever, Brad Boyes. Not a recipe for success, imo.

Perhaps Ruff should consider putting Leino with Nathan Gerbe. Last year Gerbe got off to a horrendous start but ended up turning it around. Gerbe's also a guy who'll work it and be able to find an open man in the slot, a place where Leino is real strong.

Or perhaps, this whole scenario is being way overblown and it'll take a lot of time to find the right chemistry for all four lines.

Who knows? Right now the Sabres are in Florida and have a meeting with the Panthers who are off to a good start.

As for the Sabres? They are 4-1, even without Leino comfortable.