The UFA that got away from the Toronto Maple Leafs is revealed

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Julien Trekker
July 10, 2024 (12:43)

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The unrestricted free agent that got away from the Toronto Maple Leafs on the market is none other than Matt Roy.

It's no secret that the Maple Leafs' general manager Brad Treliving focused on adding talent at the blue line on the free agent market. He did so by signing two interesting players: Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev.

However, a report confirmed that he was interested in another player: Matt Roy.

The 29-year-old defenseman would've been a perfect acquisition for the Maple Leafs. Unfortunately, Roy ended up signing a six-year contract with the Washington Capitals, where he should be a big part of the defensive unit, on the second pairing, behind John Carlson.

According to the insider Chris Johnston, Roy is the "one that got away."

Here's what he said in a recent podcast:

"I think Matt Roy was a little bit of the one that got away. They were interested in Brady Skjei but that was pretty clear early on that, that wasn't going to be it. They called on Pesce, but I didn't get a sense that was ever (close). Roy was a big target."

"If you look at what he does, if you would have added Tanev and Roy, that is significant for your top four. That is literally two guys that play the right side that really can eat minutes and not a lot happens (offensively for the other team) when they are on the ice. You are talking about a different blueline. The Leafs, defensively, it has been a problem."