Fansided

Boston Bruins release Ville Leino

By Catherine Silverman

Apr 6, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Ville Leino (23) hooks Philadelphia Flyers center Brayden Schenn (10) during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Sabres, 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Ville Leino (23) hooks Philadelphia Flyers center Brayden Schenn (10) during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Sabres, 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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He had to know it was coming, but it still probably hurts.

Despite the fact that both veterans Simon Gagne and Ville Leino were kept through the Boston Bruins’ first round of pre-season preliminary cuts, it was only a matter of time before the team sent one of them on his way. Now that RFA’s Torey Krug and Reilly Smith have been re-signed, it seems that GM Peter Chiarelli wasted no time in doing so.

Leino, who has been with the league for seven years, had been skating in place of Reilly Smith on the right wing for almost the entirety of the pre-season.

Fans should have known something was up when Leino did not show up to practice today, while Smith skated in his place in the lineup. Now, all that remains is to determine whether the team will trade a player to make more room, sign Simon Gagne, do both, do neither… yeah. The Boston lineup is still far from set.

Leino is coming off of a three-year stint with the Buffalo Sabres. His final season in Buffalo had only seen him skate in 54 games, with no goals posted and only fifteen assists for the forward. It’s unlikely that he will find another team to take him on at this point, and will most likely move his play to Europe or the AHL.

More from Fansided:

Mike Komisarek released by Devils
Boston Bruins re-sign Torey Krug, Reilly Smith

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