Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) – In the 2022 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres had four picks in the top-41 selections. After taking three forwards in the first round, their second-round pick was the first goaltender selected off the board in the draft.
Topias Leinonen was the top goaltender taken in that draft class. I remember after the draft, the Sabres said he really was the best player available, because he was the highest player on their board.
"I knew they were interested in me, which was a little bit of a surprise to me. But I’m happy with that," said Leinonen during Sabres Development Camp earlier this month.
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 Development Camp, but still managed to get into 40 games during the 2022-23 season, 23 of which were with the JYP U20 team. He went 12-10-0 with a 2.72 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage.
That also included two games where he got two shutouts for Finland’s U19 team, and five games for Finland’s U20 team where he went 2-2-0 with a 2.18 goals-against average and an .874 save percentage.
The injuries have really put this 20-year-old through the ringer.
"It’s been a hard plan for me with a couple of injuries. Now I need to play and practice every day, and that will mean a lot," Leinonen said.
The Sabres had high hopes when they took Leinonen with the 41st pick, and they may still have high hopes for him. But as far as young goalies go, they have Luukkonen, who is 25, Devon Levi, 22, 2023 fifth-round pick Scott Ratzlaff, 19, and their seventh pick from this past June, Ryerson Leenders, 18.
Leinonen says 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.
"There will be off-ice things, and moving well on the ice," Leinonen detailed.
This upcoming season will see Leinonen heading to Sweden to play in the HockeyAllsvenskan with Mora IK. He says there’s much to accomplish in Sweden.
"I think that’s good for me. It’s a new place, and everything’s new for me, which will be good," Leinonen said.
For three years, you’ve heard general manager 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. Leinonen feels the same way for himself.
"That’s one [reason] 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. Then 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 says he’s learned by talking to Luukkonen about it. 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, as well as Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks.
Leinonen says there are things he picks up from Demko’s game.
"He’s moving pretty well, and he fights for the net," he said.
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.
