Often times, it’s important to the keep in touch with the “enemy”. Of course, I don’t really mean we are enemies, as ultimately we are just passionate for our hockey. But, fans can get a little crazy about their team and say things that just don’t make sense. I know both fans that read BlackhawksBuzz can get a little out of hand. So, we check in with the Flyer’s blogs to see what the talk is, and we do a little point/counterpoint. . .

On CSNPHILLY.com, one viewer left a comment regarding the emergence of Ville Leino:

leino rested for playoffs??
12:15 pm Jun 03, 2010
Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that Coach Lavvy (knew what he was doing?) let Leino sit and learn the system and get his feet under him towards the end of the season. Now he’s saying he has so much energy he could double shift him. “He’s got a lot of jam right now”. Lavvy and Leino are the GREATEST late season acquisitons ever. Come on boys, WERE ALMOST THERE!

That is a great theory, but the commenter has given way too much credit to both Leino and Coach Lavy. Leino was struggling in Detroit, having difficulties finding he scoresheet. With the talent in Detroit and the opportunities this season with wounded Red Wings dropping like flies, Leino had just four goals, seven points and a minus-10 rating in 42 games this season, and might well have found himself down in the AHL soon enough. On February 6th, Detroit traded LW Ville Leino to the Flyers in return for D Ole-Kristian Tollefsen on Saturday. Tollefsen never cracked the Red Wings roster.
Once acquired, Ville was a healthy scratch for the 4 games going into the Olympic break. Once back from the break, he appeared in a smattering of games, skating in 13 of their final 22 game. For a team that desperately needed wins at the end, Ville was a healthy scratch for the final back to back with the Rangers. In a Philly sweater, he finished the regular season with 2 goals and 2 assists in 13 games. Not a genius plan by Laviolette. Average numbers found Leino a healthy scratch for 9 games of the home stretch, for a team fighting to capture a spot in the playoffs.
As for “Lavvy and Leino being the GREATEST late season acquisitions ever”. Really?
Lastly, would a personnel change on December 4th be considered “late season”?

From BroadStreetHockey.com following Game 4:

Does anyone else think Leino purposely aimed his shot off of Versteeg?
by p25j23

And the follow up post, after Leino eluded to the fact this it was luck . . .

I heard that, but the whole sequence just looks so perfect. (Just seeing it again on NHL network). He’s got so much vision with the puck that I wouldn’t put it past him.

Really?? Talk about a magic bullet.

A few more from BroadStreetHockey.com, they do have active boards.

Ooh—see the Habs article to the right? That should be in Fly By tomorrow—“Habs Fire Six Scouts: Is Claude Giroux The Reason Why?” You bet your sweet grilled cheese he is! (well, one of the reasons anyway)
by doubleh

Really? So the Habs are going to fire two-thirds of their scouting staff over 1 guy? If scouting staffs were cleared out everytime they passed up on a player that goes on to blossom into something special, the turnover rate for NHL scouts would be astonomical. In 1999, Zetterberg was passed on by every team, for 6 rounds. One of the top 2 way forwards in the game went in the 7th round, 210th overall. You can look at any draft and shake your head, of course, in hindsight. If you want a good laugh, just look back at the past crap Chicago has drafted, for years. Not sure what triggered it, but things straightened out in 2001.

The worst thing for the Hawks fan, many of which probably have no idea about this, is that this is a complete one shot for them, in regards to the talent level of this team, given their salary cap issue for next season.
by Gizmoitus

Really?? The Hawks are one of the youngest (if not THE youngest) team in the league. The Hawk’s core players are locked up, long term. True, they are tight on cap space, but what is left to fill in is role players. It will no doubt be a challenge to keep this team together, but this is the challenge all GMs face. As it was announced, the cap will go up again, giving a little breathing room. With a team this young, they will return to the Finals again.
As for the Flyers, their window is much smaller. Your workhorse, Pronger, is not getting any younger. Next season, the Flyers may not win a shootout in the last game of the regular season to squeak into the playoffs. They were lucky to advance this season. It’s rare for a team to finish the season with 88 points even make the playoffs, let alone last this deep. Leighton may be a one and done. Is he the real deal, or just hot? He has had a strong defense in from of him, and the Hawks have done little to disrupt him in front. In his 11 year career, Leighton has never been a starter in the NHL. In 2004, Leighton took the ball from an injured Thibualt, finishing the season with 6 wins in 34 starts.

Blackhawks fans can get a little out there in comments as well, but that’s for another day.