And this Leaf fan is happy to help, as long as it doesn't stop our team from spending where they can.
Barkov is one of those guys I just see staying with his team, similar to Crosby. A few others I see as long hauls with their team is Marner, Barzal, K Conno, Q Hughes, Aho, Rantanen.
Mismanagement has drowned FLA in the past and even with this new ownership until they realized to leave it to the "experts".
We've spent to the cap to compete but for whatever reason, this season Zito has penny pinched and re-tooled a decent hardworking team.
I agree, he seems extremely loyal and I'd add Mikko Koivu as an example of staying with one franchise nearly his entire career.
Barkov is an introverted and shy person, don't see him signing with a big market team if he is suppose to the be the GUY.
This season will dictate alot for FLAs future, if he stays, Zito can start mortgaging some future picks and prospects to add another piece or two in next two years to semi go all in.
If he doesn't stay, we will be set back another 2-3 years unless Zito can sign a free agent top 6C and bring in Lundell next year.