Pontus Holmberg Sounds Off After Signing With Lightning: "It Wasn't My First Choice"

Among the flurry of moves the Maple Leafs made so far this off-season, one involved tendering qualifying offers to their restricted free agents.

Names like Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson and even Topi Niemala found themselves with offers, which prevented them from becoming unrestricted on July 1.

But one forward who didn't get an offer and became a free agent was Pontus Holmberg, and for the former Leafs forward he wasn't too pleased with the outcome.

Though he signed a new deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning on the 1st, it seems he wanted to stay in Toronto, and expressed frustrations with not getting a qualifying offer.

Holmberg voiced his frustrations with his media call, and while he's excited about being part of a winning team in Tampa; clearly loved Toronto.

Drafted 156th overall by the Maple Leafs in 2018, he made his way into the team thanks to his two-way ability and tenacity on the ice.

While he didn't hit the offensive strides fans had hoped for (49 points in 159 games) he was still a serviceable and solid bottom-six forward in his three seasons with the Leafs.

Tampa is going to benefit from one particular part of Holmberg 's game and that's his ability to draw penalities. I

If he can give guys like Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point the chance with the man advantage more often; that's a huge boost to the offense overall.

Fans often had a love-hate relationship with Holmberg and it seems the writing was on the wall in regards to his future; he played sparingly at times and was non-existent in the postseason.

He doesn't really fit the new look Leafs, and with the acquisitions of players like Matias Maccelli and Nicolas Roy; the team is getting nastier and savvier.

Holmberg deserves his flowers for giving Toronto 100% every time he stepped on the ice, but it wasn't meant to be for the Swedish forward.

Maybe it's in Tampa where he turns things around.