Has been good. I think he's looked like one of the best forwards so far. Granted, we're talking about only 3 games here, so I could well be overreacting. But here's my question: Does anyone else think the current line combinations have him buried a little bit, playing with Boyes and Ennis and away from the likes of Vanek or Stafford?

Now I know the Luke Adam experiment needs more time before we can pass real judgement. But the thing I don't like about Adam playing with Vanek and Pominville is that it effectively makes Leino the third line center. Yes, they have depth of scoring in lines, but I think from what I've seen so far, Leino is not getting the playing time he might deserve.

Thoughts?

If the Adam experiment with Van and Pom works, then I really like the setup. You aren't really looking at lines 1, 2 and 3, but rather A, B and C. They should all get comparable ice time, or perhaps the line that's playing best on any particular night will get the most. Besides, I'd call Leino with Ennis and Boyes line B. At least until Roy is back up to 100%.

Ham

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Do you believe yet?

I just realized something,

With the home Pommer jersey that I recently recycled into a Vanek, I can now harvest the letters out of the name plate to make a Leino jersey...

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

Leino is by far the most positionally solid center on the team. I watched him closely last night. He's always where he's supposed to be.

Unfortunately that means he spent half the game on the half wall covering for Sekera or Gragnani when they pinched.........

your username looks pale

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HOCKEY IS BACK!

I was trying to de-mod myself. It didn't work.

lol @ your sig

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

I think we might need to play around with the second and third lines until we find a combination that works. I'm also not sure we need both Cody McCormick and Patrick Kaleta in the lineup most nights.

AND...

I think we're still finding our defensive identity a little bit. No doubt there's load of talent there, especially coming up the ice, but we need to figure out how to best use it.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

IMO we've got to take a look at aquiring a top 2 tier center. Leino is an awesome player has great awareness but like in Philly he is much more suited for the wing. We do have the assets to get another top 2 line center in here but it's a lil early in the season to be talking trade. Maybe even give him a chance on the wing with Roy at center see how that pans out.

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"If you want to know what I've been doing lately, I've been driving around from Tim Horton's to Tim Horton's, rolling up the rim. Haven't won anything yet. Thanks." - Lindy Ruff

I disagree. I think you've got to give Leino some time. He's going to grow into this role well. And when he does, look at our top 4 centers:

Adam
Roy
Leino
Gaustad

That's pretty damn good.

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Wheelhouse

I think Leino is and will be fine at C. If there's any wiggle room for adjustments, it's when Hecht returns, and you could POSSIBLY have Leino-Hecht-Boyes, and then Gerbe-Gaustad-Kaleta.

He's not locked in as a center...you KNOW Lindy isn't afraid to move players around....

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Well, unless a move is made, he probably is locked in as a center. Because who else do they have? Hecht and Boyes have both sucked at center. McCormick and Gaustad are 4th line centers. That leaves Leino, like it or not. Unless Ruff drops Hecht in the middle, which is an idea I hate. Hell, I dislike the idea of Hecht in there at all.

Ham

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Do you believe yet?

Thing is, who's to say Leino wouldn't be better served up on the 2nd line as a winger?

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maybe but we already have so much wingers... and which 2nd line are you talking about?

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LET'S GO BUFFALO!

Ya that is pretty awesome.

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"If you want to know what I've been doing lately, I've been driving around from Tim Horton's to Tim Horton's, rolling up the rim. Haven't won anything yet. Thanks." - Lindy Ruff

I don't know that I can agree with the love fest for Leino.

He has one goal in five games and got benched in the Habs game. It looks like he has drifted down to the forth line and in a WGR interview he said,

"I don't know if it's the system or whatever, but I'm sure that I'm not happy with how I've played. I'm sure Lindy isn't happy either. I'm just trying to work here and get things working."

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th' only knower of th' cosmic mysteries alive at this time

Leino made a bad play that led to the Habs first goal. He's going to need time to adjust. Ehrhoff just had to come in and play his normal game. Regehr isn't having to play much different as a rock on the back end while Myers carries the puck. Leino has to learn a new system and figure out his game and his linemates. Roy is also dealing with getting back into top game shape so two centers are struggling just a bit, and we're still going strong defensively (2 goals against per game, and two were shorties).

Both will get it going, and there's not much to worry about in the meantime. Let's take another look after 20-25 games.

i dont think myers has looked all that great. i'd really like it if his beginning of the season doesn't last as long as last year.

Leino has had to take sometime to fit in with the system but has had flashes of what he really can become the guy can hold the puck forever if he needs to and set people up. its only 5 games in. But just like always... he needs to shoot the puck more.

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The Board Drunk.