The NHL's biggest bust in years

I wouldn't say he was a bust I would just say Buffalo severly overpaid.

If you look at it this year is right in line with just about every other season of his career except for last year in Philly.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 09:39 AM ET  01.19 by Burgh-Fan

If you look at it this year is right in line with just about every other season of his career except for last year in Philly.

Right he's not a bust they just spent too much

The NHL's biggest bust in years


...and here I thought it was Melanie Collins.

Reason #847 why I'm not a GM. I thought for sure, after how Buffalo played last year and all the young talent they had, that Leino would easily be a 20+ goal scorer this year. Of all the moves Holmgren made this past offseason, this one is looking like one of the best.

Everybody is the best at something....

Pugula is learning the hard way, you can't just throw money at something and expect results. You have to be careful, do it over time, and plot a course by which you improve over 2-3 yrs. Look at Burke in Toronto, done it by adding a couple of players each year, not bringing in high priced talent all at once and expecting results. The most important job as a GM, and to a certain extent as an owner if they are involved in player decisions, is to figure out who stirs the drink and who drinks the drink. Guys like Leino, Gomez, Gionta, etc are guys who benefited from playing with great players, they aren't necessarily great players themselves. Briere is the opposite, he's truly great b/c it doesn't matter who he plays with, he still performs and makes those around him better. The NHL is littered with GMs who have made these mistakes, and the good ones are the ones who can tell the difference.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 09:39 AM ET  01.19 by Burgh-Fan

If you look at it this year is right in line with just about every other season of his career except for last year in Philly.

He had an incredible playoff in 2010 but it didn't hurt that his linemates were a Briere who was on fire that same playoff year, and Hartnell (like him or not, he had a great playoff himself).

Prior to that he was mainly a coach's decision scratch...not exactly the type of guy you throw cash at the way the Sabres did.

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:35 AM ET  01.19 by Garbage Man

I wouldn't say he was a bust I would just say Buffalo severly overpaid.

Would have to agree...as for a bust...try Alex Daigle, Patrik Stepan, Dave Chyzowski, Neal Brady, Ray Martyniuk, Barry Dean...

Really now, if he was any good at all do you think the Red Wings and Ken Holland would have dumped him 2 years ago??? Philly first and now Buffalo are learning what the Red Wings and Holland/Babcock figured out then, "he couldnt play on Detroits 4th line, why in the heck would anyone believe that he could play and be paid like a #1 line winger".... just shows again, that Holland and the Wings are the best at what they do...

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 10:32 AM ET  01.19 by spartygreen

Really now, if he was any good at all do you think the Red Wings and Ken Holland would have dumped him 2 years ago??? Philly first and now Buffalo are learning what the Red Wings and Holland/Babcock figured out then, "he couldnt play on Detroits 4th line, why in the heck would anyone believe that he could play and be paid like a #1 line winger".... just shows again, that Holland and the Wings are the best at what they do...

Leino was fine in Philly playing with the right linemates.

if we're going to throw Daigle into this you may as well toss in Dipietro for fun.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 10:32 AM ET  01.19 by spartygreen

Really now, if he was any good at all do you think the Red Wings and Ken Holland would have dumped him 2 years ago??? Philly first and now Buffalo are learning what the Red Wings and Holland/Babcock figured out then, "he couldnt play on Detroits 4th line, why in the heck would anyone believe that he could play and be paid like a #1 line winger".... just shows again, that Holland and the Wings are the best at what they do...

The Wings would have never let him go if they saw any talent. Buyer beware.

That was the stupidest play I've seen in a while... and I have Coyotes season tickets.

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 10:52 AM ET  01.19 by puttin on the foil

if we're going to throw Daigle into this you may as well toss in Dipietro for fun.

Don't toss DP too hard, he will break... again... and again... and again.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 10:01 AM ET  01.19 by Rougeman

Pugula is learning the hard way, you can't just throw money at something and expect results. You have to be careful, do it over time, and plot a course by which you improve over 2-3 yrs. Look at Burke in Toronto, done it by adding a couple of players each year, not bringing in high priced talent all at once and expecting results. The most important job as a GM, and to a certain extent as an owner if they are involved in player decisions, is to figure out who stirs the drink and who drinks the drink. Guys like Leino, Gomez, Gionta, etc are guys who benefited from playing with great players, they aren't necessarily great players themselves. Briere is the opposite, he's truly great b/c it doesn't matter who he plays with, he still performs and makes those around him better. The NHL is littered with GMs who have made these mistakes, and the good ones are the ones who can tell the difference.

Burke??? You want to use the Leafs franchise as a model of what should be done?

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 11:05 AM ET  01.19 by nfitzy

Burke??? You want to use the Leafs franchise as a model of what should be done?

Father forgive him. He knows not what he said. Where's the Pontiff when you need help!

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 11:05 AM ET  01.19 by nfitzy

Burke??? You want to use the Leafs franchise as a model of what should be done?

Think I just threw up... Sorry.

he totally got the jason werth deal of hockey. fit well with a team surrounded by much better players which improved his own numbers, but on there own they are just average again.