Maple Leafs turned down by star forward despite huge offer!

On the opening of free agency on Monday, the Edmonton Oilers signed forward Jeff Skinner to a one-year, $3 million deal, two days after the Buffalo Sabres bought out the final three seasons of his contract.

Skinner totalled 24 goals and 46 points in 74 games in 2023-24 and was just one season removed from a career year that saw him register 82 points (35 goals, 47 assists) in 79 contests.

It was clear that he was going to be a coveted free agent up front, and the Maple Leafs were in on Skinner, attempting to lure him to Toronto, his hometown team.

Insider Chris Johnston explained that, while the Leafs tried to sell him on playing with Auston Mattews and Mitch Marner, Skinner chose the team he thought had a better shot at a championship.

“But he’s going there [Edmonton] to win. I mean, he could have signed for one year and three million in about ten spots,” Johnston said on the latest episode of The Chris Johnston Show . “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.”

It’s funny to think that any player, especially one that saw his deal getting bought out days prior, would turn down the idea of playing with Matthews and Marner, close to home.

However, these two were competing with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who made it all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

I don’t think Toronto had a chance, despite this great offer from Brad Treliving and the rest of the team.