On Thursday, Oct. 3, it was reported that Buffalo Sabres forward Ville Leino will be sidelined indefinitely due to a cracked rib suffered during a loss to the Detroit Red Wings the previous night.
Since signing a six-year, $27 million contract with the Sabres in July of 2011, Leino has played only 80 games with the team, missing 40 out of 48 games last season and 11 out of 82 the season before. In those 80 games, Leino has 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points and is rated a -2.
With Leino out of the lineup, rookie forward Johan Larsson is set to make his Sabres debut after being acquired by the Minnesota Wild last season in the trade that sent captain Jason Pominville out west.
Having played only one NHL game in his career (which came last season with the Wild), Larsson had 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points with the Houston Aeros of the AHL last season. He also had 8 penalty minutes and an even plus/minus rating. Joining the Rochester Americans in the AHL after being traded to the Sabres, Larsson had one goal and three assists for four points in seven games with the team. He also had two penalty minutes and was rated a -2 during his short stint with the Amerks.
To make room in the lineup for Larsson, who plays center, Tyler Ennis will be shifted over to the wing.
The Sabres will host the Ottawa Senators on Friday, Oct. 4, which will be their home opener for the 2013-2014 season.
