Rd 2, Pick #41: Topias Leinonen (G)

[thewookie1]

2nd goalie off the board at 58. 

 

I get the sense Adams sees this ongoing trend of goaltending shortages and decided that reaching on a goalie at 41, who was arguably the best in the draft was worth it if only to add a goalie prospect to the system.

[Doohicksie]

12 minutes ago, SDS said:

That’s what she said.

[Taro T]

And it also seems to say that Portillo is out the door.

The only goalie in the system down the road is Levi.  Getting his potential battery mate in the 2nd makes sense when there's nobody else you're high on and you have nobody else.

[SDS]

3 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

2nd goalie off the board at 58. 

 

I get the sense Adams sees this ongoing trend of goaltending shortages and decided that reaching on a goalie at 41, who was arguably the best in the draft was worth it if only to add a goalie prospect to the system.

You could compare this to overdrafting quarterbacks in the NFL. 

[dudacek]

Big, big boy.

Know nothing about him, but the Sabres have not taken a goalie this high since Mika Noronen went at 21 in 1997.

5th highest pick used on a goalie in Sabre history (Barrasso, Biron and our own Bob Sauve we’re all 1st-rounders.)

Guess we’ll see where this one goes. Would have rather nabbed an RD 

[Taro T]

Just now, SDS said:

You could compare this to overdrafting quarterbacks in the NHL. 

Well, QBs drafted in the NHL are pretty much ALWAYS overdrafts. 😉

 

 

[Doohicksie]

8 minutes ago, Thorny said:

He was ranked the number 1 euro goalie by central scouting 

...on the other hand, you can't spell Leinonen without Leino.

[Weave]

3 minutes ago, Thorny said:

If a team drafts for need at this point I feel like it’s gotta be pipeline need, especially considering how long goalies take. Considering our G prospect pipeline is loaded, my guess is Adams had this dude ranked highly for one reason or another 

Loaded?  Realistically, we have Levi.  And he can still choose to go UFA next year.

[thewookie1]

Just now, SDS said:

You could compare this to overdrafting quarterbacks in the NHL. 

We'll be able to tell how good this choice was based on when other goalies go as well. 

[bob_sauve28]

2 minutes ago, Taro T said:

And it also seems to say that Portillo is out the door.

The only goalie in the system down the road is Levi.  Getting his potential battery mate in the 2nd makes sense when there's nobody else you're high on and you have nobody else.

Can't he just walk, too? Do we have any guarantees he plays for us? 

[ExWNYer]

3 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

2nd goalie off the board at 58. 

 

I get the sense Adams sees this ongoing trend of goaltending shortages and decided that reaching on a goalie at 41, who was arguably the best in the draft was worth it if only to add a goalie prospect to the system.

Maybe they had intel that Seattle was looking to go G and were afraid of getting beat to the punch for "their guy".

[bob_sauve28]

1 minute ago, dudacek said:

Big, big boy.

Know nothing about him, but the Sabres have not taken a goalie this high since Mika Noronen went at 21 in 1997.

5th highest pick used on a goalie in Sabre history (Barrasso, Biron and our own Bob Sauve we’re all 1st-rounders.)

Guess we’ll see where this one goes. Would have rather nabbed an RD 

Oh wow, I had forgotten that! 

[SDS]

Just now, thewookie1 said:

We'll be able to tell how good this choice was based on when other goalies go as well. 

For any of us who has ever played fantasy football, it’s a game of chicken. Who is that first QB/TE off the board. 

[Weave]

Just now, bob_sauve28 said:

Can't he just walk, too? Do we have any guarantees he plays for us? 

No.  We have our current AHL goalie that noone trusts and 2 NCAA goalies that can choose to go UFA.

[Doohicksie]

7 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Considering our G prospect pipeline is loaded

Is it?  If Portillo walks, what are we loaded with? 🤔 

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Can't he just walk, too? Do we have any guarantees he plays for us? 

He can, but that's 2 years away.  Portillo can walk in 1 year.

Levi will be here.

[Second Line Center]

3 minutes ago, ExWNYer said:

Maybe they had intel that Seattle was looking to go G and were afraid of getting beat to the punch for "their guy".

 

With 3 picks in RD 2 I'm assuming they knew one of those would be a goalie

[ExWNYer]

2 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Is it?  If Portillo walks, what are we loaded with? 🤔 

 

[Doohicksie]

5 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Can't he just walk, too? Do we have any guarantees he plays for us? 

We have control of him for another year.

[Taro T]

1 minute ago, Second Line Center said:

 

With 3 picks in RD 2 I'm assuming they knew one of those would be a goalie

You talking Buffalo or Seattle?  Thought Buffalo has 3 2nd next year.

[bob_sauve28]

2 minutes ago, Taro T said:

He can, but that's 2 years away.  Portillo can walk in 1 year.

Levi will be here.

Oh, so maybe he joins us at end of his college season. That's cool 

Just now, Doohickie said:

We have control of him for another year.

Control good! Ugh 

[Second Line Center]

1 minute ago, Taro T said:

You talking Buffalo or Seattle?  Thought Buffalo has 3 2nd next year.

 

Seattle - they had 3 this draft

Edited July 8, 2022 by Second Line Center

[DarthEbriate]

As everyone has said, too soon for a goalie (in particular this goalie), even with Portillo possibly walking.

[SDS]

6 minutes ago, Second Line Center said:

 

With 3 picks in RD 2 I'm assuming they knew one of those would be a goalie

This is probably an underrated comment.

[Doohicksie]

1 minute ago, DarthEbriate said:

As everyone has said, too soon for a goalie (in particular this goalie), even with Portillo possibly walking.

I think this pick will need to be evaluated in the context of the whole draft.