Topias Leinonen
Finnish ice hockey player (born 2004)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Topias Leinonen (born 25 January 2004) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] Leinonen was selected 41st overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2nd round of the 2022 NHL entry draft.[2][3]
_072_(cropped).jpg)
| Topias Leinonen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Leinonen at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics | |||
| Born |
25 January 2004 | ||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) | ||
| Weight | 234 lb (106 kg; 16 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
| NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams |
Buffalo Sabres Rochester Americans (AHL) JYP Jyväskylä Mora IK | ||
| NHL draft |
41st overall, 2022 Buffalo Sabres | ||
| Playing career | 2021–present | ||
Playing career
After playing for Ilves in his youth, Leinonen moved to JYP Jyväskylä's Under-16 program.[4] He played for the JYP Under-16 team in 2018–19, and the Under-18 team in 2019–20. After playing 15 for the Under-20 team in 2020–21, Leinonen played 21 games for the Under-20 team in the 2021–22 season and played 4 games in Liiga for the senior team.[5][6]
In 2021–22 he spent time on loan with KeuPa HT of Mestis.[7]
Going into the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Leinonen was regarded as the top goaltending prospect[7] and was ranked as the top European goalie by NHL Central Scouting.[8] He was drafted 41st overall by the Buffalo Sabres, as the first goaltender selected in the 2022 NHL entry draft.[3] He attended Buffalo Sabres Development Camp in 2022, 2023, and 2024.[9][10]
Leinonen joined Mora IK in the HockeyAllsvenskan in the 2024–25 season.[11] He played 25 games for Mora where he recorded a 2.31 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.[5] On March 28, 2025, the Buffalo Sabres signed Leinonen to a 3-year, entry-level contract to begin in the 2025–26 season.[12] He reported to the Rochester Americans on a professional tryout agreement for the remainder of the 2024–25 season before being released from the PTO in May.[13][1]
In 2025–26, Leinonen played 7 games with the Rochester Americans, where he recorded a 3.11 goals against average and a 3–3–0 record.[14] On 4 February 2026, Leinonen was reassigned to the Jacksonville Icemen, the ECHL affiliate of the Sabres.[15]
International play
_093_(cropped).jpg) Leinonen at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  Finland | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World U18 Championships | ||
 | 2022 Germany |
|
Leinonen represented Finland at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics,[16] where he played 4 games with a .837 save percentage.[17]
Leinonen represented Finland at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships,[18] where he recorded a 2.61 goals against average and a .897 save percentage in 5 games played en route to a bronze medal.[5]
Personal life
Leinonen is the son of former Finnish ice hockey goaltender Tero Leinonen.[5]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2019–20 | JYP | U20 | 22 | — | — | — | — | 68 | — | — | .910 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | JYP | U20 | 15 | — | — | — | — | 41 | — | 2.59 | .895 | 3 | — | — | — | 8 | — | 2.67 | .860 | ||
| 2021–22 | JYP | U20 | 21 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 1264 | 48 | 2 | 2.28 | .916 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | JYP | Liiga | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 215 | 5 | 0 | 5.02 | .825 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | KeuPa HT | Mestis | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 95 | 5 | 0 | 3.15 | .861 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | JYP | U20 | 23 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 2.72 | .885 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 2022–23 | JYP | Liiga | 8 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 390 | 20 | 1 | 3.08 | .858 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | KeuPa HT | Mestis | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 116 | 7 | 0 | 3.61 | .868 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | JYP | U20 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3.28 | .871 | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | — | 1 | 2.78 | .892 | ||||
| 2023–24 | JYP | Liiga | 6 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 333 | 23 | 0 | 4.14 | .844 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | KeuPa HT | Mestis | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 119 | 9 | 0 | 4.53 | .850 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2024–25 | Mora IK | Allsv | 25 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 1454 | 56 | 4 | 2.31 | .910 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 358 | 13 | 0 | 2.18 | .929 | ||
| 2025–26 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 397 | 23 | 0 | 3.48 | .855 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2025–26 | Jacksonville Icemen | ECHL | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 352 | 19 | 0 | 3.24 | .880 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Liiga totals | 18 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 938 | 48 | 1 | 3.90 | .844 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
