Former Leafs forward reveals the truth: He was willing to re-sign in Toronto before they forced him out
Former Maple Leafs forward Pontus Holmberg has opened up and revealed that he believed all along that he would return to Toronto before the team cut ties and forced him out.
He didn’t need to say much to get the point across. Ex-Maple Leafs forward Pontus Holmberg is quietly thriving in Tampa Bay, leaving Toronto fans scratching their heads over what the club passed up.
Holmberg signed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning worth an average $1.55M after the Toronto Maple Leafs opted not to qualify him this summer.
He told reporters on Monday that he was ready, willing and able to come back to Toronto, before the team sent him to free agency.
“I was ready to come back but something happened, but I’m happy to be here. It’s a new start for me.”
In 68 games last season for Toronto last season, he posted 7 goals and 12 assists for 19 points – modest but solid numbers for a bottom-six forward.
Holmberg was always well known for his defensive reliability and puck-protection. In Tampa Bay he’s getting regular minutes on a shutdown line, earning praise for his relentlessness in hounding pucks from Lightning coach Jon Cooper.
“I love that kid,” Cooper said this week. “His strength on his skates and the puck… he protects it. You can’t take it from him. When you need to kill another team’s momentum, just put it on his stick and he’ll do it all by himself.”
Holmberg proving Leafs mis-judged him
Watching him slide into a meaningful role in Tampa is painful for Leafs fans. It’s tough to shake the sense the Leafs let a useful, versatile forward walk without a fight. In Tampa he’s doing what the Leafs could have used more of – steady, two-way play, penalty-kill value, and dependable bottom-six minutes.
The Lightning signed him quickly once he hit the market, showing there was clear interest league-wide. Maybe most telling is that, for now, Holmberg is flourishing. That puts a spotlight on the Leafs’ ability to evaluate and retain depth pieces.
For Toronto the next challenge won’t just be scoring goals – it will be properly valuing players who can contribute quietly, reliably, and consistently. They sure miss Holmberg this season, especially in light of all of the injuries.
Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily
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Former Leafs forward reveals the truth: He was willing to re-sign in Toronto before they forced him out
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