Does/should the organization wash its hands of Leino this summer?

[gallagt01]

I don't hate Leino as much as most. But with Regier's commitment to the rebuild growing increasingly evident, does the organization wash its hands of Leino this summer by using one of its two allotted amnesty buyouts?

The franchise is devoid of talent on the wing both short- and long-term. Moving Vanek and Stafford makes that even clearer.

Does Regier also decide to go young and replace Leino, thereby admitting that his signing was a failed experiment? Or does he keep him around as a "go-to" veteran scorer - one that can take Armia under his wing, perhaps?

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[Jacob582]

Do they?: No

Should they?: probably not.

If he has surgery I'm not sure he will be eligible to be bought out this summer. There is another amnesty buyout next summer. They can wait a year. They shouldn't need the cap space.

 

[gallagt01]

If he has surgery I'm not sure he will be eligible to be bought out this summer. There is another amnesty buyout next summer. They can wait a year. They shouldn't need the cap space.

Agreed. And vet scoring on a young, rebuilding team is hardly a problem.

I'm just not sure where Regier stands regarding Leino. He can't be happy with the signing thus far.

 

[Ruckus007]

They can hold off the buyout decision until 2014, correct? My thoughts would be to keep him next year for two reasons. 1.) to try to recoup trade value if they want to go that route and 2.) it was only 8 games but I really liked his game this season and want to see if he's really the player they thought they were getting.


Since they can punt both buyouts until 2014, I would be inclined to save both of them and see if the obvious candidates (Leino, Stafford) can succeed with a different coach to either improve trade value or be a part of the rebuilding effort.

 

[CrankyJay]

Weren't we warned by Flyers fans of his hip injury the summer we got him? This is pathetic.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

No point in buying him out now. The cap won't be a problem and there's nobody ready to replace him, unless it's another UFA signing which would also be pointless. Unless he's taking a roster spot from somebody better/more productive in 2014-15, I wouldn't buy him out then either. If Vanek is traded by then, they'll need him somewhere.

 

[Mergus merganser]

Why? He finally looked worth 4.5 million this season. They likely won't be near the cap the next two years, so there is no reason to buy him out.

 

[BCS]

No real point unless the money is being spent on someone else. If not, give him another year.

 

[ceky]

Weren't we warned by Flyers fans of his hip injury the summer we got him? This is pathetic.

absolutely.... "have fun with his bum hip"

i wondered what that meant, not anymore....

 

[Myllz]

He's going to be one of the only halfway decent NHL scorers on the team next season. There's no reason to get rid of him now, especially since cap space won't be an issue.

 

[Clock]

He's going to be one of the only halfway decent NHL scorers on the team next season. There's no reason to get rid of him now, especially since cap space won't be an issue.

This.

The cap isn't going to be a concern, so as long as the guy isn't going to be a poor leadership figure for the kiddies, it starts becoming a non-issue.

 

[Djp]

Leino is the summer 2014 buyout candidate.

The rules are you an't buyout if injured. I am not sure how that is interpretted.


I also am not sure when is the time to declare who the buy out candidates are.

a team may want to wait until the draft and trades they make before deciding who will get bought out. It depends on who is kept/traded.

If Vanek resigns then Leino is a bigger candidate to get waived than if Vanek is traded.

 

[sba]

I'd do it while they still have the compliance buyout option. You're blowing it up, may as well get that cap space back for the later years of the deal when it might be needed more.

 

[Djp]

Since they can punt both buyouts until 2014, I would be inclined to save both of them and see if the obvious candidates (Leino, Stafford) can succeed with a different coach to either improve trade value or be a part of the rebuilding effort.

Are you sure they can punt and wait on both buyouts and do them in 2014?

 

[Jacob582]

Are you sure they can punt and wait on both buyouts and do them in 2014?

Yes, both can be used in 2013 or 2014.

 

[1TuchAnd1NoTuch]

Can't we buy him out next summer? Seems dumb not to give him a look next season since we'll likely be far from the cap

 

[Old Navy Goat]

I think they'd want him around also to help assimilate Armia to North America. It could prove very beneficial to him having another Finn on the team.

 

[Moskau]

Zero reason to. Rebuilding teams never spend near the cap and by the time the team is ready to be competitive again he will have as little as 2 years left on his contract. 2 years of Leino at 4.5 Million is a tradeable (dumpable) asset.

 

[1TuchAnd1NoTuch]

Zero reason to. Rebuilding teams never spend near the cap and by the time the team is ready to be competitive again he will have as little as 2 years left on his contract. 2 years of Leino at 4.5 Million is a tradeable (dumpable) asset.

His real salary will be 3 and 3 as well

 

[Myllz]

I think they'd want him around also to help assimilate Armia to North America. It could prove very beneficial to him having another Finn on the team.

That could backfire if Leino starts telling him about how strange and terrible the team or organization is.

 

[Paxon]

Considering they'll need help next year, it's probably best to keep him and re-evaluate the following season. The risk is that if he's healthy and can be bought out this summer, perhaps he won't be the following summer. Ultimately don't care much whichever they decide but I don't see it as being a no-brainer.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

I'd do it while they still have the compliance buyout option. You're blowing it up, may as well get that cap space back for the later years of the deal when it might be needed more.

The compliance buyouts are available both this summer and next.

Leino's injury might prevent him from being bought out this offseason anyways, so there might not be a choice in the matter for the Sabres. I'm not sure what the criteria is: whether he has to play the final game, be medically cleared prior to the buyout window, or whatnot.

 

[ZZamboni]

I think they'd want him around also to help assimilate Armia to North America. It could prove very beneficial to him having another Finn on the team.

That's only if Armia makes the team. I'm of the mindset he won't make the Sabres out of camp. They'll want him to develop in Rochester for a year. Maybe get 3-7 games due to injuries, but nothing significant.



Leino can be bought out in 2014 if he doesn't have a solid year.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

That's only if Armia makes the team. I'm of the mindset he won't make the Sabres out of camp. They'll want him to develop in Rochester for a year. Maybe get 3-7 games due to injuries, but nothing significant.



Leino can be bought out in 2014 if he doesn't have a solid year.

I think that Vanek is going to be moved so they're going to give Armia every chance to make the roster as they need the infusion of skill

 

[jBuds]

He's going to be one of the only halfway decent NHL scorers on the team next season. There's no reason to get rid of him now, especially since cap space won't be an issue.

He's not even close to a "decent scorer". At all. He can maintain puck possession every fourth shift. Get him the **** gone.