Jeff Skinner Chooses Edmonton Over Hometown Toronto Maple Leafs
In a significant move during the NHL free agency period, Jeff Skinner has signed with the Edmonton Oilers, bypassing an offer from his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. NHL insider Chris Johnston revealed on “The Chris Johnston Show” that despite the Leafs’ efforts to entice Skinner with the prospect of playing alongside star players Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, he ultimately chose to join the Oilers, attracted by the opportunity to play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Johnston explained, “He’s going there [Edmonton] clearly to win. I mean, he could have signed for one year and $3 million in about ten spots. I know the Leafs were among the teams that had talked to him and were trying to pitch him in the idea, ‘Hey, you can play alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on our team!’”
Erik Beaston of Bleacher Report echoed this sentiment in a column published on July 4, stating that Toronto is “no longer a championship destination.” He highlighted the Leafs’ lack of activity in free agency and their failure to secure big deals, contrasting it with Skinner’s decision to turn down an opportunity to play for his hometown team, signaling a shift in the NHL landscape.
Oilers’ Recent Success Attracts Skinner
The Oilers’ recent success, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 before falling to the Florida Panthers in Game 7, has bolstered their appeal. In contrast, the Maple Leafs have consistently struggled in the playoffs, being eliminated in the first round six out of the last eight seasons. Despite having a talented roster, Toronto’s playoff failures seem to be impacting their ability to attract top free agents.
Beaston emphasized, “For all of the prestige and honor that comes with playing for the Maple Leafs, an organization that is to hockey what the New York Yankees are to baseball, its inability to get over the hump and win a championship is astonishing. That Toronto is Skinner’s hometown team and that he had never played in a single playoff game, but still passed on the opportunity to suit up for the Leafs only highlights that the team is no longer the championship destination it was previously for players looking to make money in the pursuit of making history.”
Impact on Free Agency Decisions
Skinner’s decision to sign a one-year, $3 million deal with the Oilers, following his buyout from the Buffalo Sabres, underscores the importance of recent success and the potential for a deep playoff run in attracting players. Skinner, who has yet to play in a playoff game at age 32 despite over 1,000 regular-season appearances, is eager for the chance to make his playoff debut with Edmonton.
Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have made significant investments in free agents Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, but their inability to secure Skinner highlights ongoing challenges. The Oilers, by contrast, have focused on retaining their core players from the Stanley Cup Final run and have not signed any new player to a contract larger than $8 million, suggesting a more strategic approach in free agency.
The contrast between the two teams’ strategies and recent successes may influence future free agents’ decisions, with Toronto needing to overcome its playoff hurdles to re-establish itself as a premier destination for top talent.