Edmonton Oilers

Oilers and Maple Leafs Both Lost This Free Agent — Here’s Why

Did the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs both miss out on Mario Ferraro? Were either close to signing him before he joined the Jets?

by
NHL Trade Talk
July 17, 2026

Mario Ferraro was one of the more sought-after defensemen on the market this summer, with the Toronto Maple Leafs viewed as the frontrunner. Instead, the 27-year-old signed with the Winnipeg Jets on a three-year, $12 million deal — leaving both the Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers without a piece they both show interest in.

Insider David Pagnotta explained the miss on DFO Rundown, and for Toronto, it wasn’t about money — it was about indecision elsewhere on the roster.

Per Pagnotta, the Leafs’ message to Ferraro was that they were “still figuring out Morgan Rielly” before committing. Ferraro wasn’t willing to wait around for that answer and signed with Winnipeg on July 1 instead. Edmonton and Carolina were also in the mix and came away empty-handed. The Darnell Nurse trade was also a factor in Edmonton’s push.

It will be intriguing to see if this was a miss for either team. At $4M AAV, Ferraro would have been a low-cost, low-risk add — a switch-hitting defenseman capable of playing either side, coming off a career-high 23-point season, who could’ve slotted in as a steady middle-pairing option or injury insurance next to Chris Tanev or Jake McCabe.

In Edmonton, Ferraro would have gotten a legitimate shot in their top four. Instead of signing Shea at the same money, Edmonton would have slotted Ferraro alongside Jake Walman.

For Toronto specifically, time will tell if this was a big miss, especially if Rielly doesn’t remain on the roster. He is expected back next season, but the “we’re still figuring it out” part seems to continue to describe that relationship. The Leafs waited on a decision that never materialized, and possibly lost a legitimate defenseman in the process.

Edmonton’s miss is less about internal gridlock and more about potentially identifying a different option. It would have been something if Nurse went to San Jose and Ferraro to Edmonton. It would have felt a bit more like a trade than anything.

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