Ville Leino’s rookie playoff run was one to remember

Most Flyers fans don't look back fondly on the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Losing to the Chicago Blackhawks was the last time the Flyers made it to the final round. And they haven't come particularly close in recent years, coming off the fifth straight season in which they haven't qualified for postseason play.

One of the most positive things fans took away from the playoffs that year was the play of Danny Briere, otherwise known as "Mr Playoffs." He is far down the list of league record holders, but Briere's 30 points during the 2010 playoffs are still a franchise record. But he's not the only player who set a record that hasn't been broken since.

Before coming to Philadelphia, Leino impressed in the Finnish Elite League at the age of 24, leading to a one-year deal with the Red Wings in 2008. Starting in the AHL, he had 15 goals and 46 points in 56 games. After a call-up to the NHL, Leino finished that year with five goals and 13 points in 13 games.

Signing a two-year extension, things quickly went south the following year, and Leino was shipped to Philadelphia after four goals and seven points in 42 games. He played in 13 games for the Flyers to end that year, not inspiring much confidence with two goals and four points. Leino sat out the beginning of the playoffs as a healthy scratch, but injuries would soon call him into action.

Joining Scott Hartnell and Danny Briere, Leino would break out in a big way. He registered at least a point in 12 of his 19 games, eight of them being multi-point outings. His line was a significant factor in the comeback against the Bruins, as Leino posted seven points in the series. He was nearly as strong against Montreal and even more impressive facing Chicago.

Overall, Leino finished the 2010 playoffs with seven goals and 21 points in 19 games. A rookie at the time, Leino holds the Flyers' franchise record for goals, assists, and points in a playoff year. He is tied for the NHL record with Dino Ciccarelli and Jake Guentzel, the latter nearly breaking the record in 2017. He is also tied for first in assists (14) with Marian Stastny and Quinn Hughes.

Leino used the postseason breakout to have a career season the next year. He appeared in all but one game during the 2010-11 season. He played a large role in the Flyers finishing first in the Atlantic Division with 106 points. Leino's 34 assists and 56 points were fifth on the team, while he was seventh with 19 goals.

Leino didn't quite find the same success in the playoffs, and the Flyers were bounced in the semi-finals, falling in four straight games to the Bruins team that couldn't complete the sweep a year prior. Leino had just three goals and five points in 11 games. His three goals were actually second on the team, behind just Briere and James van Riemsdyk, who both had seven.

He did have a star moment as his overtime goal against the Sabres in the first round forced a Game 7 that Philadelphia would win to make it to the second round.

Pricing himself out of Philadelphia, Leino would cash in on a six-year, $27 million contract with the Sabres. Let's just say it wouldn't go well. He would post a combined 10 goals and 46 points in 137 games. He was bought out by the Sabres in 2014, earned a PTO from the Bruins the next season, but failed to make the team.

After a few years back home, Leino would retire in 2017. Thanks to a clothing line he developed in 2014, Leino would come back to the Flyers in 2022 with Billebeino. While the team would sport his clothing on road trips, it would also be sold in the Cap and Collar store in the Club Level of the arena. Leino sought out a partnership a few years prior and it remains to this day.

While Leino was never ever to recapture his 2010 playoffs nor the following career season, he forever holds a place in Flyers history.