Leino Out, Ritola In — On the Wings

Update (3:33 PM): Thought I should clarify what I meant by the horribly-worded “Even with Filppula back, he’s a non-factor.”

Way back at the start of the season, Leino and Filppula had some great chemistry, as you might remember. I assume Babcock remembers that as well. So, to me it’s telling that he’s sitting Leino despite Filppula’s return. You’d think he’d at least give Ville another game to try to regain the magic with Fil, but he’s not.

It doesn’t mean Leino will sit Thursday night as well, but it does tell me he’s majorly deep in Babcock’s doghouse.

If Leino is still the guy who was basically saying “I’d better in the NHL next year or else,” I wonder if he has the mental fortitude to find his way back out into the yard. – Matt

You have to wonder where Ville Leino’s NHL career is headed when he’s being replaced in a depleted, starved-for-offense Red Wings lineup by a minor league call-up. The fact that it’s come to this is a pretty clear indicator that maybe he doesn’t have what it takes. Even with Filppula back, he’s a non-factor.

Is he going to take this as a challenge and actually be better or is he going Axelsson his way back to Finland (either after being sent down to Grand Rapids or after a couple of weeks of sitting)?

Comments

Don Else says:

December 28, 2009 at 12:22 pm

Filppula is gone for two months and his status with Leino is being judged after ONE game?

Slow down, kids. He is a one way signee, so you might as well use him. Give Filppula a chance to get his legs back, then see how Leino is doing (chance meaning, more than one game)

Crater from SoCal says:

December 28, 2009 at 5:47 pm

I think Fil did bring a bit more life into Leino in the last game, but Ville is just not an NHL player. I talked about it a bit on my site the other day while discussing what is going to happen when all the injured players come back. This shows even more than he really will have to earn his place. The talent he showed last year during his call up can’t have disappeared, can it? Leino for the price still has a huge upside, but he is not a 2nd line player yet, and doesn’t seem to be able to rise to the call of filling in as one.

Andre says:

December 28, 2009 at 6:49 pm

I think that the Wings’ talent level last year bought the team as a whole more space to operate during games. With less skill players this year maybe opposing teams feel more comfortable pressuring the puck-carrier, who is either a) not skilled enough to make a good pass/puck handle, or b) not passing to a skilled recipient.

It might be that, with the extra space last year, maybe we didn’t see the “real” Leino. What I can’t get over is his seeming lack of lower-body strength and how easily he’s muscled off the puck.