Maple Leafs ‘No Longer a Championship Destination’ Among Players
One of the first transactions in free agency saw Jeff Skinner signing with the Edmonton Oilers instead of his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
NHL insider Chris Johnston, speaking on The Chris Johnston Show episode recorded on July 2, revealed that despite the Maple Leafs’ pitch to have Skinner play on a line with star players Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, Skinner opted for the Oilers and the duo comprised of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
“He’s going there [Edmonton] clearly to win. I mean, he could have signed for one year and $3 million in about ten spots,” Johnston said. “I know the Leafs were among the teams that had talked to him and were trying to pitch him in the idea, ‘Hey, you can play alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on our team!’”
Echoing that report, Erik Beaston of Bleacher Report, claimed Toronto is “no longer a championship destination” in a column published on July 4.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs have been quieter than most in free agency thus far, making news for deals that did not get done as opposed to those that did,” Beaston wrote. “That Skinner turned down the opportunity to go to the team and specifically play with Matthews and Marner suggests a change in the NHL universe.”
