Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres have signed goaltender Topias Leinonen to his three-year entry-level contract.
Buffalo’s second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft will head to the Rochester Americans to practice with the team on their playoff run. His contract with the organization officially begins next season.
The Finnish-born goaltender played 25 games with Mora IK in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan this season, going 13-10-0 with a 2.31 goals-against average, a .910 save percentage and four shutouts.
This past July during Sabres Development Camp, Leinonen told me he chose to play with Mora this season because he knew he’d get a good chance to play a lot.
This is a kid that is finally healthy, as the 21-year-old had to endure hip injuries and surgeries.
Buffalo has Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi already in the fold, but also has other young goalies in the organization like Leinonen, 2023 fifth-round pick Scott Ratzlaff and 2024 seventh-round selection Ryerson Leenders.