I'll tell you what a joke is TavaresNeedsHelp. The fact that your favorite organization traded for Ehrhoff and quickly realized you didn't have a chance to sign him, so you gave up instead of making it happen. THAT IS A JOKE!!!! The Sabres needed less than 24 hours to accomplish what your GM didn't think was possible, that is sign him before free agency. Leino has grown leaps and bounds every season. At 27 what makes you think he can't continue to get better in Buffalo over the next several years. I see no reason this can't happen. What I like best about Leino is that it seems he is at his best in the playoffs. Did the Sabres overpay for him? Perhaps, but so did every other team that signed a somewhat big name this year. The free agent was weak and cap space was available for virtually every team. Thats what happens on July 1st. But I'll say this, the Sabres at least signed guys in their prime that have a lot of hockey ahead of them.  As for you Zepplin, sour grapes my friend. I heard a Flyer fans gripping about many of your players this year, none about Leino. Please don't try and tell me you didn't want him back a week ago. If you try and tell me that you would be lying.....

I agree with zeppelin. This signing is a joke. How does a 19 goal season translate into 27million? There are worse contracts out there like trading for and then giving a 3rd liner like Versteeg 3.1mil. He must have everybody drinking his Kool-Aid coz everyone seems willing to throw him a parade and sign a blank cheque for this guy.

6 years and 27 million for a Ville Leino who has a grand total of 73 points in 3 seasons in the NHL. Buffalo will rue the day...

Whew thanks to guys like facerack and TPS for bringing some sanity to talk about the Sabres. After having spent all day watching hockey commentators talk about how great it was to see the Sabres spending money, filling holes, building a team and being relevant on July 1st, I was starting to believe all the hype. Afterall what do these yahoos know that are on the panel of Free agent frenzy. Hey Captain Obvious Facerake, no kidding the Sabres are out of the Brad Richards sweepstakes. They did that volentarily when they knew they had Leino. Leino will play center and while he isn't Richards, I have no doubt he will play well enough to justify this contract. I'm going to be glad come playoff time, he is on our side this time and not KILLING us like he did this year. I suspect the moment it was revealed that the Rangers would basically get a chance to match any offer, the list for Brad Richards got a lot shorter. Afterall, why should teams be used to get Brad Richards a better contract. Personally, I hope everyone drops out and Richards is left to take less money and suffer playing for the joke that is the New York Rangers. Last comment, Life is good in "Hockey Heaven".

Good signing. Seems like they gave him too much money for the production he gives. Hopefully it works out, I was always a Leino fan.

Now the question is, who will the Sabres unload?  They have about $1.3M in cap space and only 19 players signed.  Given that a regular roster is 23 (although you are allowed to carry 22), they have 4 more players to sign.  Throw in that the NHL minimum is over 500K, and it is impossible for the Sabres to stay under the cap.  Someone will have to go.

awwwww, did somebody spill some milk.

Have fun with him.  He will only show up and play in a handfull of games, when it's convenient for him of course,  That only includes the regular season forget the playoffs his mind wanders when the weather breaks and the only reason Buffalo would be considered to make a run for the cup is because of the guy in between the pipes.

TPSReports- You are a fool. They have put together a hell of a strong team. Leino contract is mind boggling to me but he is far from a stiff. This team is absolutely a stanley cup favorite coming out the east. No doubt about it. I hear Leino cant play D, well he doesn't have too. Buffalo knows that, thats why they got him to run their pp and play on the 1st line, which he will do well. They have a rock solid D core and plently of 2 way forwards. This will be the best defensive team in the league next year, and a strong stanley cup favorite.