It didn't take long for Ted Nolan to figure out the enigma that is Ville Leino.
Skill means nothing without hard work.
Leino rode shotgun of the fourth line at Buffalo's practice on Monday in between John Scott and Matt Ellis. Nolan is the third coach in the past year to grow weary of Leino's persistent lack of production and obvious lack of passion.
Nolan wants less razzle dazzle and more manual labor from the stubborn Finn. Matt Ellis is the perfect role model for Leino. Eliis does his chores every shift because he hasn't been blessed with God given talent like Leino has.
No wonder Team Finland opted to keep Leino off their Sochi roster.
Nolan controls the ice time.
"We’re looking for people that want to compete and want to work," Nolan said in First Niagara Center. "It doesn’t matter what your skill level is. It’s nothing with no will. We have to get him competing at a certain level. Some days he shows it. Some days he doesn’t.
"You're frustrated with most people that don’t do it on a consistent basis. He’s showed some signs lately."
Thanks, Sabres.com
Leino is in year three of his six-year, $27 million contract.
No goals, six assists and a minus-8 rating in 30 games.
Can you say bust?
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Leino will play Linus Omark along with Cody Hodgson and Steve Ott on Tuesday vs. the Florida Panthers.
The Washington Capitals have made a goalie move. After losing to the Rangers in Manhattan on Sunday night, rookie Philipp Grubauer is headed back to the Hershey Bears.
Is this a permanent move or is it temporary? Is a goalie trade about to go down? Is George McPhee contemplating upgrading his net position? Are Michael Neuvirth and/or Braden Holtby being showcased for a trade?
The wobbly Caps play the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.
In 14 starts in Washington, Grubauer has achieved a .926 save %.
He's had his problems tracking and saving pucks in recent starts.
Neuvirth and Holtby have been average at best in the past month. The tandem is
Caps goalies are seeing an average of 34 shots per game this season. That's the third worst shot total in the NHL.
The Eastern standings are so tight that they are squeaking. Expect the same congestion for the next three months of the regular season.
5. NY Rangers 57 points
6. Philly 55 points
7. Toronto 55 points
8. Columbus 52 points
9. Detroit 52 points
10. Washington 52 points
11. Ottawa 51 points
12. New Jersey 51 points
13. Carolina 49 points
Another week of bad goaltending may banish the Caps to the bottom of the pile.
The Olympic roster freeze kicks in February 7 at 3pm. It will thaw on February 23.
Alexander Ovechkin appeared NBC's "Today" show on Monday morning to speak about the upcoming Sochi Olympic games. Ovehckin told Carson Daly that the people of his nation are eager to host the Sochi games and that he thinks that the men's hockey tournament will be highly competitive. His Russia squad will have to fight off a field of formidable opponents if they wish to advance to the medal round. Teams Canada, USA, Sweden, and Finland will give Russia all that it can handle in the short, pressure-packed tournament.
Ovechkin was also asked to comment on the ongoing efforts of Russian President Putin to increase security within the Sochi community and inside the Olympic village in order to thwart the threats of terrorism that have become a serious concern for all nations sending representatives to the winter Olympics.
In late December, there were two suicide bombings in the Russian city of Volgograd that killed 34 people. The Olympic torch passed through Volgograd on Monday on its way to Sochi, where the Olympic games are slated to open February 7.
NBC News reported Monday morning that Putin has promised to strengthen security in the Sochi region to ensure the safety and well being of all people who are associated with the Olympic games.
With less than three weeks to go before the opening ceremony, security in Sochi is already tighter than at most airports, and Putin has vowed to take every step necessary to protect the Olympics.
The video surfaced Sunday as American officials expressed frustration at what they called a lack of cooperation from Russian security officials.
“They’ve now moved 30,000 armed troops to the region. That tells you their level of concern is great,” Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said on the CNN program “State of the Union.”
Russia has promised to surround Sochi within a “ring of steel.” The region has been fortified with additional metal detectors, bomb-sniffing dogs and explosive detectors. But groups threatening the Olympics say they will target not just the host city but other areas of Russia.
Putin said over the weekend that he “will try to make sure that the security measures taken aren’t too intrusive or visible and that they won’t put pressure on the athletes, guests and journalists."
The Edmonton Oilers are contemplating making roster moves as the Olympic roster freeze draws nearer. I don't see the Oilers trading young studs RNH< Taylor Hall, or Jordan Eberle. Yakupov is a tradeable commodity that can fetch Craig MacTavish a player that he desperately needs right now. That is a top four D, among other pieces for his rebuild.
Keep an eye on center/winger Sam Gagner. At age 24, Gagner finds himself in the thick of a miserable season largely due to the broken jaw and subsequent long recovery process that he had to endure.
Gagner is healthy now and is a likely candidate to be traded at or before the NHL trade deadline.
The Chicago Blackhawks are said to be keeping their eyes in the skies on Gagner. They could use another veteran center to add to their already impressive roster. Right now, agitator Andrew Shaw is playing center for Pat Kane and he is doing exceptionally well. As the playoffs get closer and the ice surface continues to be barb-wired with time and space at a premium, Shaw would be better served on the third or fourth lines to add grit and energy. Gagner has a history with Patrick Kane, having played the role of all star set-up man for Kane in his NHL draft year of 2006-07. That season at OHL London Knights, Gagner scored 35 goals and added 83 assists. In the playoffs he added 7 goals and 22 assists in 16 games. Kaner scored 62 goals and added 83 assists that season. He also chipped in 10 goal snad 21 assists in 16 playoff games.
Kane was selected first overall in the 2007 NHL entry draft.
He and Gagner would have no problem rekindling the old flame.
Gagner can succeed while playing a top six role on a contending team. He is a great complimentary player, no so much a "carry the team on my back guy" like he has been type cast in the City Of Champions.
Ottawa Senators center Jason Spezza is a point producer, and a great one at that. Spezza has struggled to find the score sheet this season and its having a negative effect on his plus/minus rating. Those in the analytics community don't put mush stock in a player's +/- because the numbers can be skewed which may cause a misleading conclusion. Players and coaches have always measured success by +/- because the goal of every player is to be on the ice when his team scores and to prevent opponent's from scoring while he is on the ice.
Spezza has been a go-to guy for Ottawa since their Cup run in 2007. He is counted on to score and produce offense every game, however, his shots haven't been hitting the back of the net lately. In his past 12 games, Spezza has just two goals and three assists. His team is playing well despite his offensive struggles. His 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 games rank him fifth is scoring on the Senators. Spezza's expectations for himself are loftier than a 50-55 point season. When healthy and given 20 minutes TOI a game, Spezza is an 80-90 point producer. This season, he's averaging approximately 18 minutes TOI per game. He's the 36th ranked center in the NHL right now, far below his customary top 15 ranking. He's taken 128 shots on goal. His shots just are not falling for him right now.
Any coach worth his salt will tell you that if an offensive player isn't scoring, then he better be contributing in other areas. On the bright side, Spezza has scored 5 PPGs and is winning 55.2% of his draws.
"I'm not playing as much and I'm not playing in an offensive role as much," said Spezza Sunday. "I'm just trying to help us win games and we're winning games."
Spezza is putting the needs of the Senators ahead of his own needs these day.
"But I expect myself to get on the board every night and contribute offensively," said Spezza. "It's not happening but I feel I've played pretty good hockey and I'm trying to do what is best for the team right now."
Spezza said Sunday that he's not thrilled with his -17 rating.
"Sometimes things happen: You're on the ice for empty-netters, bad bounces, but to get your plus-minus up you have to score some more goals. We went through a tough stretch at the start of the year. I don't have to worry about plus-minus, I have to worry about helping to get us wins'.
"It's been a frustrating stat for me this year," he said. "I've been plus-20s in the past. This year when something goes wrong it seems I'm on the ice for it. It is what it is. I'm mature enough of a player to know I have to be on the ice for more goals for, than against.
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