Ville Leino (rib) will travel with the Sabres. He's still being evaluated but he could be close to returning. Leino hasn't played since Oct. 2 because of a cracked rib.

Ville Leino (cracked rib) fully took part in Monday's practice. He is hoping to be ready to return by the end of the week. "We'll decide on when he's ready," coach Ron Rolston said. "Obviously he's a veteran who can come back and help us for sure but we'll make sure he's healthy and ready to go." Leino was injured in Buffalo's regular-season opener.

Ville Leino is out indefinitely after sustaining a cracked rib. He logged an uneventful 12:38 of ice time in Buffalo's loss to Detroit Wednesday night. Leino missed most of the 2013 campaign due to injury as well.

Ville Leino feels healthy and excited for the upcoming season. "New start, new coach. I'm playing right wing, which is my favorite spot. I'm healthy," he said. "Everything is going the way you want it to go at this point and I'm really excited to go back out there. It's a new start and almost like I didn't play for a year." He underwent surgery on his right hip over the summer and appeared in just eight games last year. Leino opened camp alongside Mikhail Grigorenko and Steve Ott. Even though he's healthier, Leino is still a very risky pick going into draft day.

Ville Leino didn't play on Sunday due to an upper body injury. Sabres coach Ron Rolston described it as a "muscle strain" and is hopeful that Leino will play on Tuesday. Leino has two goals and six points in eight games due to a hip injury.

Ville Leino sniped two goals in Buffalo's 4-3 loss to the Capitals on Saturday night. Leino's goals were his first of the season, which has been comprised of just eight games. Christian Ehrhoff had the other goal, while five different Sabers chipped in with assists.

Ville Leino (hip) is "highly likely" to make his season debut Saturday afternoon versus Ottawa. The Sabres will need to remove someone from their roster in order to activate Leino, who hasn't played yet this season because of a hip injury. Forwards Brian Flynn and Marcus Foligno don't have to clear waivers to be sent down, but interim coach Ron Rolston will discuss who to demote or possibly trade with GM Darcy Regier before a decision is made.

Ville Leino (hip) is unlikely to make his return to the lineup Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Leino has been practicing with the team and is on the verge of returning. The Sabres don't play again after Tuesday's contest until Saturday afternoon in Ottawa, so it's entirely possible the team just wanted to take one more game to evaluate the roster before clearing space for Leino.

Ville Leino (hip) is projected to be a game-time decision for Tuesday night's game versus the New York Rangers. "I feel really good, so we'll see," said Leino Monday after he wasn't able to return against Philadelphia on Sunday. "It would have been good extra momentum to play against an old team and a fun rink to play, so it would have been good. But we're looking at this day now, and we'll go from there." He hasn't played yet this season because of a hip injury.

Ville Leino (hip) isn't likely to make his season debut on Sunday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Leino was hoping to participate in that game, but Sabres coach Ron Rolston doesn't sound optimistic. "We're just trying to get him back into practice and get him quality practice time," Rolston said. "Really grinding, get him in more competitive situations. It will be close. I don't know when. I would doubt Sunday but certainly next week a strong possibility."