Ville Leino’s journey to the land of the compliance buyouts took another step forward today, as Sabres head coach Ted Nolan has decided to make the underperforming 30-year-old a healthy scratch for tonight’s home game versus Ottawa.
“Sometimes it’s better to sit back and look and observe,” said Nolan, who also reportedly took issue with Leino’s effort (or lack thereof) during yesterday’s practice.
Leino -- who has no goals and five assists in 18 games this season -- is signed through 2016-17 with a cap hit of $4.5 million. A compliance buyout in June would cost the Sabres just over $7 million spread over six years, but there would be no cap hit.
The Sabres have yet to use one of their two compliance buyouts.
Forward Drew Stafford is another candidate for a compliance buyout in Buffalo.