History Lesson! Buffalo Sabres 3 worst contracts since 2010
By Sion Fawkes
Ville Leino, LW
One day after the Buffalo Sabres linked Ehrhoff, they went out and signed Ville Leino to a $27 million contract over six years. And talk about a one-year wonder, as the then-27-year-old Leino enjoyed a 53 point, 19 goal, and 34 assist outing before his ill-fated signing with the Sabres. Oh, and did I mention he also logged a 16.2 shooting percentage AND a 57.4 percent FOW%?
The latter may be one of a few reasons the Sabres bumped the left winger inside to center, where he just flopped, losing 135 face-offs and scoring an FOW% of just 41.3. In 71 games, he also logged eight goals, 17 assists, and 25 points before he scored six points and two goals in just eight appearances the following season.
In 2013-14, the Sabres finally realized their mistake when Leino went 58 games without scoring a single goal, and had just 15 assists an a FOW% of just 43.6. Overall, his play at center makes Casey Mittelstadt look like a halfway decent player, to put it generously.
Two weeks before the Sabres bought out Ehrhoff, they bought out Leino using a similar compliance buyout. They finished paying off the buyout following the 2019-20 season. How much were the Sabres paying him? $1,222,222 over the buyout’s duration – For a player who scored just 10 goals during his 137-game run in the Queen City.