Leino talks break down, hits open market
Daily News Flyers blog
Leino talks break down, hits open market
Ville Leino, starting at 12 noon, is no longer a member of the Philadelphia Flyers.
After putting together a few last ditch efforts to re-sign Leino, including talks that extended into last night and this morning, Leino’s agent, Bill Zito, confirmed to the Daily News that his client will test the open market beginning today at noon.
Leino, 27, is sure to demand a lot of attention from other teams.
With 19 goals and 34 assists last season, Leino is the second-highest scoring free agent on the market after Brad Richards.
He is coming off a two-year, $1.6 million contract that was originally signed with the Detroit Red Wings.
According to sources, the Flyers were willing to go as high as 4 years, $12 million on an offer for Leino, but he believes he can find more on the open market.
It’s hard to blame him, considering Tomas Kopecky - a player two years older with 4 less goals and 7 less assists last season - signed in Florida for the exact same amount earlier this week.
Leino does have a bit of an injury history after an intense hip surgery last summer, something that may make some teams think twice before offering a longer term deal.
Hitting the open market doesn’t preclude the Flyers from bringing Leino back to Philadelphia next season, a place that he has always said he wants to be. It just makes it harder with such a soft market this offseason. The two sides will check back in as the offers come in.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
Get exclusive videos and analysis in our new app for iPhone and Android. Download it here.
- That was a function of the CBA. You have to reach a certain age (26-27?) before a NMC can be active in your contract. No matter where Stamkos ends up, he cannot have a NMC in his contract for many years. Them's the rules.
— sklandog - n62, I particularly liked his figure 8 in Buffalo game 6.— IgglesFan79
- please make that rumor of handzus go away...— philly thug
- Amen. Someone get Anthony in here to wish it away to the corn field. — sklandog
- Who's gonna score the goals?????? We don't have a stud---tough to compete with teams like pens and caps with no big time scorer!— george22
- Funny how he says Philly is the place he wants to be but turns down a fair offer. Anyway, Homer is no fool. He will pick up a quality player and some depth, especially at the center spot.
- Why do we need a center? Briere, Giroux, Schenn, Betts...I thought we got rid of excess centers...need scoring wingers for them to play with....aka....Jagr— philly thug
- philly thug, i believe its no rumor. and should we go with an all ex LA kings line, or sign jagr and pair hartnell and hands just for the hair factor? also coburn 2 years, 8 mill extension.— otown philly fan
- Bring back Upshall!— philly thug
Comment removed.- The Mullet line? I like it....but still hoping handzus isn't coming back...he was slow in his 'prime' in the old nhl— philly thug
- Comment removed.
Leino is Useless in Crunch Time unfortunately..— Kevinmac- coburn doesn't need extending he signed,.....flyers are in on Jagr and big-time meaning Gaggs isn't needed,...Flyers in on Handzuis and makes sense;...he's an awesome faceoff guy and we lack one of those and also look for Cole here,.......still think Versteeg is gone,....and Leino priced himself right out of town on his Finnish Cell Phone?...what a joke that was;...jus sayin— SyddBarrett
- WE got Jagr... A joke. HE SUCKS!— fman727
