NHL Rumors: Insider reports Toronto Maple Leafs lost out on $34.5M Capitals D-man among others

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Jul 11, 2024 03:44 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs missed out on one of their major free-agent targets this offseason. NHL insider Chris Johnston stated on a recent appearance on the Steve Dangle Podcast that Toronto struck out with Matt Roy.

The Leafs were reportedly interested in the 29-year-olf former King. However, Roy passed over the Toronto Maple Leafs to sign a six-year, $34.5 million contract with the Washington Capitals, according to PuckPedia.

Here’s what Johnston explained regarding this deal:

“I think Matt Roy was a little bit of the one that got away. They (Toronto Maple Leafs) were interested in Brady Skjei, but that was pretty clear early on that, that wasn’t going to be it.”

Unfortunately for the Maple Leafs, they missed out on another big free-agent target. Johnston explained:

“They called on Pesce, but I didn’t get a sense that was ever (close). Roy was a big target.”

While Toronto made a big splash by signing blue-liners Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, it seems the Leafs had their hearts set on bringing Matt Roy to Toronto.

Roy was part of the Capitals’ retooling, which saw them bring in Roy’s Los Angeles teammate Pierre-Luc Dubois via trade.

As for the Leafs, it’s hard to imagine the club is done adding pieces to its roster this early into the offseason. Time will tell if GM Brad Treliving has other deals up his sleeve, namely, trading Mitch Marner, as rumors suggest.

Toronto Maple Leafs quietly added another former Dallas blue-liner

The buzz surrounding Toronto’s free-agent blue-line additions was on Chris Tanev. The club traded for Tanev’s rights a day before free agency officially opened. Tanev and the Leafs agreed on a six-year contract.

However, the Leafs also signed another former Dallas defenseman, Jani Hakanpaa. Hakanpaa agreed to a two-year deal worth a total of $3 million.

On paper, adding Hakanpaa fits the blueprint Treliving and new coach Craig Berube have put together. Hakanpaa is a big, bruising defenseman standing at 6’6”. However, doubt has clouded Hakanpaa’s signing due to a knee injury he sustained last season.

The injury was severe enough to require surgery, leaving no timeline for the blue-liner’s return. It seems the Toronto Maple Leafs hope that Hakanpaa can regain the form that made him a solid bottom-pairing d-man in Dallas.

However, the nature of Hakanpaa’s injury makes this idea seem like wishful thinking. Time will tell if Hakanpaa can return to NHL action. If he does, the Leafs could have one of the toughest and meanest blue lines in the NHL.