Prospect Info: G Topias Leinonen -- Selected 41st overall in 2022

[Sabre Dance]

Terry Pegula wanted to make a pick obviously.

I’ll check back in 7 years.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Just a massive reach. Zero reason to do this. Even if you have him scouted as your BPA for some reason you’d have to entertain a trade down. 30-80 spots higher than others had him ranked! For a guy that has a super long trajectory? Sheesh

This feels like Terry Pegula called Kevyn Adams and told him to draft a goalie there no matter what

Hole smokes! That’s a lot of speculation based on nothing.

Also, can you share where players are going to get drafted? Sounds like some awesome information you have that no one else does

 

[Ace]

This kid is 18. Let's wait just a while before making a judgement?

I don’t need to wait even another second to understand draft value and goalie development odds

 

[Zman5778]

That seems like the consensus -- maybe a bit high......but probably the best goalie prospect in this year's draft.

 

[Zman5778]

I don’t need to wait even another second to understand draft value and goalie development odds

Adams is the one that targeted Levi, you know.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I don’t need to wait even another second to understand draft value and goalie development odds

Yea but like the player they drafted may be better than the player you wanted to be drafted.

 

[RefsIdeas]

Where is the guarantee that it would not be taken away after our second? Especially if he is rated as the best goaltender in the draft.

“Best goaltender in the draft” is a little tough to say when there’s zero consensus on who the “best” is, and even the ones that were considered the “best” were typically ranked around 100 overall

 

[elchud]

Garbage!

 

[Ace]

Positives: he’s not going to college?

Negatives: yes

 

[RefsIdeas]

For perspective -- Seattle took a goalie in the 2nd round as well.

I'm betting KA and company had some information that this Leinonen kid was going at some point in the 2nd and had him on a similar level as some other prospects that us amateurs are discussing.

Since we need goalies, KA jumped.

I don’t understand how this makes sense. We need goalies now. He’s 5 years away, minimum.

 

[CowbellConray]

Took a need - big goalie with high ceiling. Could we have targeted a D? Maybe. But I just heard everyone talk about how bare the G pipeline is, and we take one at 41 and now it’s a disaster… can never win with the fans lol

 

[Fjordy]

“Best goaltender in the draft” is a little tough to say when there’s zero consensus on who the “best” is, and even the ones that were considered the “best” were typically ranked around 100 overall

Well, the people who evaluate the draft say he's the best. I have no problem with this choice.

 

[Zip15]

Brings our average draftee height over 6-foot, though.

 

[CrazyWayne]

Buffalo bills draft philosophy starting to spill over to the sabres? Draft based on skill and potential where they can develop the players

Its a good philosophy in my opinion if you have an owner willing to spend money

 

[Ace]

Looking forward to not blocking his path for the next half decade by cycling in a 47 year old Anderson with whoever 2028’s Aaron Dell is

 

[CowbellConray]

I don’t understand how this makes sense. We need goalies now. He’s 5 years away, minimum.

You need goalies 5 years from now as well. Any goalie available for trade right now for 41+ has serious question marks as well

 

[Zman5778]

I don’t understand how this makes sense. We need goalies now. He’s 5 years away, minimum.

And you know our goalie position will be settled in 5 years? It's possible that UPL and Levi both underwhelm at the NHL level and this guy then is in position to jump in.

 

[joshjull]

Pronman

Analysis: Leinonen has a clear NHL tool kit. He measures in at-or-above 6-foot-4, and he’s an athletic goalie who can move well in the crease. Leionen has the ability to make very tough saves and ones that will translate to the NHL. I think he sees the game well and makes good reads, but his consistency is an issue. He lets in too many soft goals and has occasional stretches of bad decision making. He looks like a starter but projects more as a backup for those reasons.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Someone mentioned somewhere that he might of had a injury that dropped his stock in the ratings and that may be why the Sabres took him at 41. Anyone have that info ?

 

[Chainshot]

Like I said, weird mostly from the standpoint of skater evaluations. Goalies are so often hard to assess. It's possible they felt or knew that someone else would be taking him and they wanted to make sure it got done so they made the pick. Glad they got one into the system, it was much needed. I may be closing in on retirement by the time he's ready.

 

[joshjull]

Someone mentioned somewhere that he might of had a injury that dropped his stock in the ratings and that may be why the Sabres took him at 41. Anyone have that info ?

From Pronman

Background: Leinonen was a good but not spectacular junior goalie in Finland this season. He was the go-to goalie for Finland’s U18 team but was often injured or unavailable around major tournaments outside the U18 worlds where he wasn’t that good.


EDIT: it’s was also mentioned elsewhere his junior team was not very good. That he was their “savior” many nights.

 

[Zach716]

> goalies are voodoo
> draft BPA
> don’t draft for need

I don’t know why it bugs people that people can be disappointed when they don’t even follow their own advice here. Definitely stings that Noah Warren went the pick right after here. Along with a bunch of other talent.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

This year is widely considered to be poor for goalies. Maybe they only have a couple they even liked enough to want to draft. In that case, you don't risk trading down and somebody else taking your guy. We're into the part of the draft where teams go against "consensus" all the time. If you don't like the Plan B options, don't put your fate in the hands of other GMs, take your guy and go. All it takes is one of them to screw you over.

And we needed to add depth to the pipeline anyways.

No problem with this pick.

 

[Chainshot]

It does sting that Warren went 42nd...

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

really not in love with the pick since I felt RHD is a bigger need but this pick pretty much confirms Adams isn't confident in Portillo signing with us