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Four Maple Leafs Officially Set to Become Unrestricted Free Agents on July 1st


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Austin Kelly
June 30, 2025  (7:20 PM)
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May 16, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Pontus Holmberg (29) looks on against the Florida Panthers during the first period in game six of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Pontus Holmberg is among four Toronto Maple Leafs players that were not given a qualified offer ahead of Free Agency.

The Toronto Maple Leafs officially announced they have extended qualifying offers to six players ahead of Free Agency, allowing for an extension to their contracts with Toronto.
- Dennis Hildeby - Goaltender
- Roni Hirvonen - Forward
- Matthew Knies - Forward
- Topi Niemela - Defenseman
- Nicholas Robertson - Forward
- William Villeneuve - Defenseman
Four members of the Leafs organization did not receive a qualifying offer, including forward Pontus Holmberg, who has been a regular for the team.
As well as Holmberg, three other players had their rights relinquished and sent to free agency tomorrow. Those players are forwards Cedric Pare & Reese Johnson, along with defenseman Mikko Kokkonen.
Holmberg, 26, played in 68 games this season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, totaling seven goals and 19 points with the club.
The other three had played the entire season in the American Hockey League. Johnson, 26, was acquired by the Maple Leafs at the trade deadline from the Minnesota Wild for future considerations.
Pare, 26, signed a one-year, $775k contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, and played the entire season in the AHL.
Kokkonen, 24, was a third round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, 86th overall. He's spent the last four seasons in the AHL with the Marlies.

Toronto Maple Leafs Move On From Pontus Holmberg For Now

Holmberg is the one surprise for Toronto to not have a deal given, but not a completely unexpected move as he was scratched in the Stanley Cup playoffs and could get a roster chance elsewhere.
Insider Darren Dreger reports that his arbitration number was too expensive, and was easier to send him to the open market.
The Toronto Maple Leafs can still choose to re-sign Holmberg in free agency even without a qualifying offer, but gives all 31 other teams a chance to persuade Holmberg with a potential better offer.
The Leafs were clearly uncertain about Holmberg in the playoffs, and have now chosen not to keep him in the Leafs lineup, likely to still get an NHL contract for next season as he's able to play in the bottom-six as both a center and winger.

Evaluating The Other Three Toronto Maple Leafs Let Go

The other three, Cedric Pare, Reese Johnson, & Mikko Kokkonen, were players that were likely to be gone from Toronto.
Kokkonen is the one who is perhaps the most disappointing. Drafted by Toronto and hoped for a time to potentially be someone who earns a roster spot for his talent never came.
Pare is a player who is a reliable AHLer with maturity who fits the level he has been at, playing his role well. He should be able to get another AHL deal.
Johnson is still a young player who has NHL experience in his past, a player who could get a two-way deal potentially. He was signed for little as a depth option for Toronto but was limited to just six games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will turn their focus to free agency and moving forward with a new team that just as much as to solve the future of their stars, but find the right depth pieces to win.
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Four Maple Leafs Officially Set to Become Unrestricted Free Agents on July 1st

Should the Toronto Maple Leafs have kept Pontus Holmberg?

Yes12818.8 %
No55481.2 %
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