I'm not contesting that. I'm contesting that the actual parallel itself is not fair. The only thing comparable, and the thing I think Ruff was trying to get at, was an initial adjustment period playing a new position with a new team.
He likened that to the last concrete time something like that has happened, which in his mind was DB.
I guess I see where you're coming from.
I just feel that Ruff knows the ins-and-outs. Perhaps he knows something that we don't, or maybe some misreporting was done.
I honestly don't recall Leino ever saying that he doesn't want to play center. I simply recall "I'm more comfortable on the wing" - or something to that degree (I could be wrong).
Leino's going to start producing. It's going to happen. Ruff's liked his compete level - I don't necessarily see this ending as poorly as some are suggesting.
The fact of the matter is this guy averaged about half a point per game during his NHL career and the Sabres paid him like he was a much, much more productive player.
The Sabres, in my opinion, took a big gamble on him. Will they win that gamble? That remains to be seen.
The fact of the matter is this guy averaged about half a point per game during his NHL career and the Sabres paid him like he was a much, much more productive player.
The Sabres, in my opinion, took a big gamble on him. Will they win that gamble? That remains to be seen.
I think we will be happy if he finishes the season as a half-point per game center who is reliable and solid in all zones, and performs well in the post-season and allows his line-mates to have scoring opportunities. That will be 5x his current output.
The fact of the matter is this guy averaged about half a point per game during his NHL career and the Sabres paid him like he was a much, much more productive player.
The Sabres, in my opinion, took a big gamble on him. Will they win that gamble? That remains to be seen.
Mid-$4 Million per season is the going rate on 50-point UFA players these days. They didn't pay him like a "much, much more productive player".
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It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle
I know some Buffalo fans came onto the Leafs board criticizing the Leafs signing Connolly. Question is, who would you rather have, Connolly for 2 years at 4.75 or Leino for 6 years at 4.5? Even with concerns over Connolly's health, its a short term deal with minimal risk.
I understand that he may have not fit well in Ruff's system but he looks really good with Kessel and Lupul so far. Was he that much of a bum in Buffalo all those years?
I know some Buffalo fans came onto the Leafs board criticizing the Leafs signing Connolly. Question is, who would you rather have, Connolly for 2 years at 4.75 or Leino for 6 years at 4.5? Even with concerns over Connolly's health, its a short term deal with minimal risk.
I understand that he may have not fit well in Ruff's system but he looks really good with Kessel and Lupul so far. Was he that much of a bum in Buffalo all those years?
Connolly wasn't an issue of system, it was an issue of lackadaisical commitment and years of being broken. Still glad he's gone.
I know some Buffalo fans came onto the Leafs board criticizing the Leafs signing Connolly. Question is, who would you rather have, Connolly for 2 years at 4.75 or Leino for 6 years at 4.5? Even with concerns over Connolly's health, its a short term deal with minimal risk.
I understand that he may have not fit well in Ruff's system but he looks really good with Kessel and Lupul so far. Was he that much of a bum in Buffalo all those years?
Connolly's deal is useless and Leino's is less tradeable. I choose option C , a bullet through my brain!
I know some Buffalo fans came onto the Leafs board criticizing the Leafs signing Connolly. Question is, who would you rather have, Connolly for 2 years at 4.75 or Leino for 6 years at 4.5? Even with concerns over Connolly's health, its a short term deal with minimal risk.
I understand that he may have not fit well in Ruff's system but he looks really good with Kessel and Lupul so far. Was he that much of a bum in Buffalo all those years?
Absolutely Leino. He's going to break into the system eventually. Connolly was in the system for years and just kind of stopped trying.
I know some Buffalo fans came onto the Leafs board criticizing the Leafs signing Connolly. Question is, who would you rather have, Connolly for 2 years at 4.75 or Leino for 6 years at 4.5? Even with concerns over Connolly's health, its a short term deal with minimal risk.
I understand that he may have not fit well in Ruff's system but he looks really good with Kessel and Lupul so far. Was he that much of a bum in Buffalo all those years?
Neither (as a scoring center). I wanted him back as 3rd line center who adds scoring and center depth, but not for that price tag. Connolly wasn't working out in Buffalo and I don't feel they've lost anything (his PK maybe) replacing him with Luke Adam on the top line.
Connolly could put up 70+ points and Leino 40 points I'd still feel the same way. I'd hate Leino's signing, but still wouldn't want Connolly back. I'd rather have 62-points MacArthur back and I feel indifferent about them letting him go.
