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Maple Leafs GM Explains Loss of Free-Agent Forward to Divisional Rival

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 8:52 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't qualify forward Pontus Holmberg ahead of free agency on July 1, and one of their strongest divisional rivals lost no time in poucing.

With Homberg entering the open market, the Tampa Bay Lightning moved quickly and signed the winger to a two-year contract worth $3.1 million.

The deal carries an average annual value of $1.55 million and ends Holmberg’s time with the Maple Leafs, where he had spent his entire NHL career.

Holmberg, was a sixth-round pick by the Leafs in 2018 and worked his way into a bottom-six role, scoring 49 points in 159 regular-seaosn games over three seasons in Toronto.

We've signed Pontus Holmberg to a two-year contract worth an AAV of $1.55M.

: https://t.co/Dl5AsZ7VGt pic.twitter.com/s5xcIDqt4B
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 1, 2025

A pending restricted free agent, Toronto declined to issue Holmberg a qualifying offer before the July 1 deadline, effectively turning the 26-year-old into an unrestricted free agent and allowing him to sign with any NHL team.

Tampa secured the Swedish forward, who posted 19 points in 68 regular-season games last season in Toronto. Holmberg, however was scratched during the playoffs, and his future grew uncertain after that decision.

GM Brad Treliving explained the team’s reasoning for not qualifying Holmberg ahead of free agency. Treliving said qualifying Holmberg could have triggered arbitration.

"It wasn’t necessarily a situation where we didn’t like the player. We did," Treliving said. "He had (arbitration) rights. When you see players go free, sometimes, people don’t understand the rights that are associated with certain players. Up until 5 p.m. yesterday, if we were to qualify him, he then kicks into arbitration mode or is attached to an arbitration filing. That elevates the number.

"Between us and Pontus’ side, we weren’t able to find a number that we felt fit for us. Now, once you get into UFA, a lot of times that number will come down because you are not attached to the arbitration.

"We like Pontus. We had discussions and talked to each other prior to us not qualifying him."

After the first day of free agency, the Maple Leafs have $4.98 million in cap space with all 23 roster spots already filled.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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