Leinonen hoping injuries are behind him

Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) – In the 2022 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres had four picks in the top 41. Their second-round pick was also the first goaltender selected in the draft.

Topias Leinonen was taken by Buffalo and I remember the team saying he really was the best player available because he was the highest player on their board. Leinonen told me at this year’s Development Camp,

“I knew they were interested in me, which was a little bit of a surprise to me, but I’m happy with that.”

Both Leinonen and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen are from Finland, both are tall and both have had to go through numerous injuries early in their careers.

Leinonen was injured in 2022 during this same camp, but he still got 40 games in, 23 of which were with JYP U20 team. He went 12-10-0 with a 2.72 goals against and .885 save percentage. That includes two games where he got two shutouts for Finland’s U19 team and five games for Finland’s U20 team where he 2-2-0 with a 2.18 goals against and .874 save percentage.

The injuries have really put this 20-year-old through the ringer and he said,

“It’s been a hard plan for me with a couple of injuries, and now I need to play and practice every day and that will mean a lot.”

The Sabres had high hopes when they took him 41 ^st overall and they may still have high hopes for him, but as far as young goalies go, they have Luukkonen who is 25, Devon Levi who is 22, 2023 fifth round pick Scott Ratzlaff who is 19 and their seventh pick from this past June, Ryerson Leenders who is 18. Leinonen said he is now back to 100% which has made hockey fun again for him.

This will be the first summer in his last three where Leinonen can actually work on his game. He said that includes,

“There will be off-ice things and moving well on the ice.”

This season, Leinonen is heading to Sweden to play in HockeyAllsvenskan with Mora IK. He said there’s much to accomplish,

“I think that’s good for me, it’s a new place and everything’s new for me which will be good for me.”

For three years you’re heard Kevyn Adams talk about how Luukkonen and Levi just need to play. It doesn’t matter where, they just need to be in the crease and Leinonen feels the same way for himself,

“That’s one thing why I chose Mora. I hope and I see that I can play a lot in Mora. It’s been a tough time,” he said, shaking his head.’ After a very long pause he just looked down and said, “I don’t know how I did it.

“Last season I didn’t play a lot and that’s not good.”

Luukkonen had hip surgery early in his career and Leinonen said he’s learned by talking to Luukkonen about it. He said he’s hoping to speak with him longer because they have the same style being tall.

When Leinonen is able to watch NHL games, he likes watching Luukkonen with the Sabres and Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks.
Leinonen said there are things he picks up from Demko’s game,

“He’s moving pretty well and he fights for the net.”

If Leinonen can get back on track in the next few years, he would just be starting to be ready when the Sabres will have to make a decision on Luukkonen or Levi.