On May 10, 2008, Leino signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings and joined their affiliate the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock commented that Leino was the "best player" he had ever sent to the minors and thus Ville was eventually recalled from the Griffins on January 29, 2009.

Leino signed a one-way, two-year extension with the Red Wings on July 6th 2009.

On February 6, 2010 he was shipped by the Red Wings to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defender Ole-Kristian Tollefsen.

Leino seemed to find his scoring touch in Philadelphia. During the 2010-11 season he recorded 19 goals and 34 assists, by far the best output of his career to that point.

In the summer of 2011, Leino was an unrestricted free agent and coming off his best NHL season, he was a hot commodity. On July 1, he inked a six-year deal worth a reported $27 million with the Buffalo Sabres.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame