Bruins invite Ville Leino to training camp
The Boston Bruins have invited veteran forward Ville Leino to training camp, general manager Peter Chiarelli announced on Friday.
One of the most disappointing free-agent acquisitions in recent memory, Leino's contract was the target of a compliance buyout by the Buffalo Sabres in June.
The 30-year-old Finnish winger managed zero goals and just 15 assists in 50 games with the moribund Sabres in 2013-14. In total, he managed just 10 goals during his three-year Sabres tenure, while taking home over $23 million in actual salary (including the cost of his buyout).
A playmaking winger who almost never shoots the puck, it's tough to see where Leino might slot in with the Bruins. Perhaps he's insurance to cover the club in the off chance that they can't figure out how to get unsigned RFA Reilly Smith under contract before the season starts.
Even then, it's pretty clear that younger players like Ryan Spooner, Matt Fraser, and Alexander Khokhlachev are better bets to be useful in a top-nine role.