Maple Leafs Rumors: "Multiple Teams" Showing Interest In Pending UFA

This might come as a shock to Toronto Maple Leaf fans who surely felt they've heard the last of this defenseman in T.O, but a report Friday afternoon has "multiple teams" reaching out about pending UFA Justin Holl ahead of Saturday's opening of Free Agency.

Hearing there’s multiple teams that have reached out about Justin Holl ahead of tomorrow and that there is still a possibility he could return to the Leafs.

— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) June 30, 2023

According to ESPN's Ryan S. Clark, not only are other teams interested in the sometimes-beleaguered blueliner, but "there is still a possibility he could return to the Leafs." That will certainly shock and raise the ire of Leafs Nation. He has been considered to this point to be one of the Leafs' UFAs that would not be returning. It's far from a sure thing, but the door is apparently still open.

At last check, I was told the chances of Justin Holl’s return to the Leafs were better than zero but less than 50 percent. https://t.co/hzQ1dByV1Q

— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) June 30, 2023

Holl was the whipping boy of fans during this year's playoffs for his sometimes disastrous performance in the first-round series vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning. After the first five games of that series, the Leafs were outscored 14-2 with Holl on the ice, while they held a 19-6 scoring advantage with Holl on the bench. That led to a benching for the 6th-year blueliner. 

The 31-year-old finished the postseason with one point in eight games and a minus-7. He did, however, finish the regular season with a plus-15, right around the same mark he's managed over the past years. His TOI has also remained consistent at around the 20-minute mark. 

His $2M comes off the Leafs' books as of Saturday, but if this latest report is accurate, his days as a Leaf might not be over just yet. 

 Photo: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports