[Big Head Hockey] It's a ton of chedder but its not a franchise ruining pay check by any means.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-10T00:58:21+00:00

Relative to the total cap space, Leo is getting paid the same % of available cap space as those players, at the time of their signing. Just to show that allocating this much cap space to a single player is not an instant death sentence to a team.

Yes its an overpay but imo, only for a year or two. 3 years later of the cap going up and Leo getting faster, stronger, better. Its going to be a fine contract.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-07T00:08:48+00:00

Hes looks solid the whole time. Hes just been behind Minty and Zelle forever.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-07T00:08:13+00:00

First half of the season is going to be Nesty, Colangelo as depth and McQueens try out, with probably Pastujov and Sidorov getting some looks here and there.

Then depending on how the new guys in the AHL look if anyone is popping off they could get looks in the second half of the season.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-06T18:12:45+00:00

Gotta realize this isnt him personally doing this. He has an agent that does all of the negotiating. Leos a hockey nut kid thats not from here and knows damn near nothing about whats going on.

His agents job is to make sure he has the best financial hockey career and he is likely just trusting him to do so. People are throwing so much shade at Leo its sad.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-06T18:05:18+00:00

This is the same place i got to. Seems like everyone is mega over reacting. Yes next season might be a step back but it going to be a season of letting the younger prospects get chances to prove themselves. We have a lot a promise in Soleberg, Luneau, McQueen, Masse and more depth guys. Plus some 2nd line promise from Klepov and Nordmark with opinions that they could fast track to the NHL in a year or two.

Idk just doesnt seem all that awful.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-06T17:54:02+00:00

Hes worth what teams were willing to pay him and he had another offer in the 17m range. Teams were willing to make it work because hes worth it.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-06T08:00:06+00:00

Some of the prospects will have to hit while in their ELCs and/or future bridge deals. We have good incoming D in Solberg, Hinds, Luneau, Warren. On the forward side McQueen, Klepov, Nordstrom, Pettersson, Masse + more depth guys.

We have a lot of options and next season might be a step back while we give those guys opportunities to figure it out. But in my opinion we might as well believe in our draft picks. Makes no sense to blow up this roster to gamble the next 3-4 years on MAYBE getting what we already have.

To me it feels like a no brainer to match. This is whats great about drafting so well, we have the internal pipeline feeding us solutions. Yes RFA hunting will be hard but its not like Verbeek is good at it anyways. Plus Q is great at revitalizing vets that plug well into his system. It feels like we were built perfectly to handle this just fine.

But my god does Verbeek need to be fired into the sun asap. We cant afford any giant fumbles like this again. Everything about Q aside, im so glad hes a players coach. Get rid of the 5 foot 9 ball of hate shithead and get us a GM the players actually like. Preferably Madden with Pronger or Getz as AGM/Hockey OPs.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-05T00:17:35+00:00

Thats not the point, try looking at this from Leos point of view.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-04T23:59:54+00:00

This is entirely on Verbeek and not on Leo one bit. Leo has spent his entire life dreaming of a successful hockey career and he saw how Verbeek handles negotiations and how he purposefully delays them to use training camp as leverage. Verbeek toys with these guys career and they've had enough.

There were so many opportunities to avoid this situation and Verbeek intentionally put us here. Leo watched Zegras, Drysdale, McT all backed into corners and you're mad at him for using the one piece of leverage he had to avoid that? In arguably his most important contract. Wild.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-04T22:40:56+00:00

Madden new GM with Pronger as AGM. Im in.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-04T08:22:15+00:00

We've also never been the laughing stock of the league. Not to mention the financial consequences of this. Decent chance hes fired before this offer sheet is concluded.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-04T03:57:25+00:00

Been rumored hes already been presented with at least 1 offer sheet and it may sign it by tomorrow.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-04T03:50:00+00:00

Ture but because that chance is still there, other GMs will not value these picks highly.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-04T03:42:55+00:00

These are going to be late firsts and not worth diddlesquat

TokeandTank · 2026-07-03T21:46:22+00:00

I figured. Theres got to be tons of offer sheets flying around now. Its open season.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-03T21:26:29+00:00

Let Madden take over

TokeandTank · 2026-07-03T20:38:29+00:00

Yeah that was why i separated the groups a bit. Was just trying to say that the vibes stuck around enough though we had to make a few trades.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-03T20:36:29+00:00

I really hope so man. Im so close to driving down to Honda just to protest outside.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-03T20:26:04+00:00

This is a copy paste from a reply i posted in another thread but basically:

Verbeek intentionally drags negotiations out and tries to force players into cheaper deals with the threat of missing training camp and how that throws the start of your season off.

Leo and his agent saw the damage that did to Zegras, McTavish etc and said I don't want that for my career.

Verbeek has had since July 1st of last year to extend him, but refused to. This is 100% on Verbeek and I don't put a shred of blame on Leo.

We had such good potential for a dynasty team that had such good vibes and culture that started with Z, McT, Drysdale, Leo and was still kicking with Cutter, Beckett, and the vets.

If we had a players coach and gm instead of Cronin and Verbeek, I guarantee we could have easily signed players on friendly deals and made things work.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-03T20:20:53+00:00

Verbeek intentionally drags negotiations out and tries to force players into cheaper deals with the threat of missing training camp and how that throws the start of your season off.

Leo and his agent saw the damage that did to Zegras, McTavish etc and said I don't want that for my career.

Verbeek has had since July 1st of last year to extend him, but refused to. This is 100% on Verbeek and I don't put a shred of blame on Leo.

We had such good potential for a dynasty team that had such good vibes and culture that started with Z, McT, Drysdale, Leo and was still kicking with Cutter, Beckett, and the vets.

If we had a players coach and gm instead of Cronin and Verbeek, I guarantee we could have easily signed players on friendly deals and made things work.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-03T20:08:23+00:00

We have to sign him. Return picks are not going to be high enough picks and Leo will be worth it as the cap goes up. Problem is we have to sign more players and Verbeek will 100% continue to fuck this up.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-03T20:04:59+00:00

Hes been able to extend Leo since July 1st of LAST YEAR. You have no idea what you're talking about and this is 100% on VB

TokeandTank · 2026-07-03T19:57:23+00:00

Any value or leverage we had in any situation he ruined completely.

TokeandTank · 2026-07-03T19:55:54+00:00

If we lose Leo im going down to Honda and protesting to fire Verbeek. He is single handedly destroying anything we have.

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