Pontus Holmberg Leaves the Toronto Maple Leafs, Joins Division Rival

Friedman reports Holmberg is signing with Tampa. Darren Dreger confirming the deal says the contract is for two-years and for $1.55M annually, a total of $3.1M in total.

Holmberg, 26, had seven goals, 12 assists, & 19 points in 68 games played last season for Toronto.

Last night, Holmberg was one of four players who was not issued a qualifying offer by the Leafs, making him a free agent and allowing him to sign elsewhere.

Holmberg was a mainstay for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the team's lineup in the regular season, but was scratched in the playoffs despite a good first round against the Ottawa Senators.

The deal has not yet been made official by the Tampa Bay Lightning at this time.

The Lightning signed another Leafs player in Nick Abruzzese earlier in the day. Abruzzese played last season in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies.

The Toronto Maple Leafs move on from Pontus Holmberg as the team prepares a new look bottom-six, having already moved around their top-six with the departure of Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Toronto also acquired forwards Matias Maccelli and Nicolas Roy to help add to their middle-six, along as acquiring enforcer Michael Pezzetta to a two-year deal earlier today.

As it stands, the Leafs have $5M in available cap space with the potential they could still move out contract for more space, or shedding a contract in a trade for a top-six player.

For now, the Toronto Maple Leafs have had a quiet day one of free agency after what has been a chaotic build-up to today's roster surely to continue being workshopped up to the first time the team will hit the ice for next season.