BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Buffalo Sabres signed free-agent forward Ville Leino to a multiyear contract hours after the NHL's free agency period opened on Friday.
Leino has been a dependable two-way forward for the Philadelphia Flyers over the past two seasons. He finished fifth on the team in scoring last season with a career-best 53 points (19 goals, 34 assists).
From Finland, he has 30 goals and 43 assists for 73 points in 149 career games split between the Flyers and Detroit Red Wings over the past four years. He was a key cog in helping the Flyers reach the 2010 Stanley Cup finals, when he had seven goals and 14 assists.
Leino initially broke into the NHL in 2008, when the Red Wings signed him as an undrafted free agent.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.