Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Joel Edmundson is expected to test free agency after completing his four-year deal.
Edmundson finished the four-year, $14 million deal he signed in 2020 as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. The Maple Leafs acquired the defenseman at the 2024 trade deadline, and although he had success with the team, Edmundson plans to test free agency, according to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta.
“The Leafs have also expressed interest in re-signing Joel Edmundson; however, I’m told the rugged defenseman plans on testing free agency next month. He is open to returning to Toronto, but he wants to explore his options before deciding his future,” Pagnotta wrote.
The 30-year-old defenseman was acquired March 7 from the Washington Capitals for a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft. Edmundson skated in nine regular season games for Toronto recording zero points but was a +3, while in the playoffs, he skated in all seven games recording one assist.
Edmundson won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. He’s also played for the Carolina Hurricanes, Canadiens and Capitals.
Maple Leafs’ Ilya Lyubushkin Expected to Hit Free Agency
Along with Edmundson, fellow defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin is also expected to hit free agency, according to Pagnotta, as Toronto hasn’t started contract talks with the Russian.
“Meanwhile, the Leafs have not started negotiations with another mid-season acquisition, Ilya Lyubushkin, who is also set to become a UFA,” Pagnotta wrote.
Lyubushkin finished off his two-year, $5.5 million deal he signed in 2022.
He was acquired at the trade deadline from the Anaheim Ducks for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NHL draft. It was his second time being acquired by the Maple Leafs; he was acquired at the 2022 NHL trade deadline and played in Toronto during the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.
In his second stint with Toronto, Lyubushkin recorded 4 assists in 19 games in the regular season and had 3 assists in 7 playoff games.
Who Are The Maple Leafs’ Pending Free Agents?
Toronto currently has 10 pending unrestricted free agents and four restricted free agents.
The most notable pending UFA the Maple Leafs have is Tyler Bertuzzi, who recorded 43 points last season after signing a one-year deal with Toronto in the offseason. Pagnotta reported on June 1 that Bertuzzi and the Maple Leafs have started contract extension talks as there is mutual interest between the two sides to get a deal done.
“It’s still very early in the process to project where this will go,” Pagnotta tweeted.
Along with Bertuzzi, Max Domi is a pending free agent who also signed a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs last summer. He finished the year with 47 points.
The full list of the Maple Leafs free agents is as follows:
- Tyler Bertuzzi, LW, UFA
- Max Domi, C, UFA
- Connor Dewar, LW, RFA
- Noah Gregor, RW, RFA
- Nicholas Robertson, C, RFA
- TJ Brodie, D, UFA
- Joel Edmundson, D, UFA
- Mark Giordano, D, UFA
- Ilya Lybushkin, D, UFA
- Timothy Liljegren, D, RFA
- Ilya Samsonov, G, UFA
- Martin Jones, G, UFA
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Maple Leafs’ $14 Million Defenseman Plans to Test Free Agency: Report