Seven-Time All-Star Slips Past Leafs and Oilers

Toronto and Edmonton both made their pitches for a seven-time All-Star forward, but neither landed the prize - and insiders suggest the Maple Leafs may have actually offered the most money. This is the kind of free agency loss that stings for big-market teams with deep pockets, raising questions about what went wrong in the pitch beyond just dollars. The identity of the player and where he ultimately signed could reshape the competitive balance in the conference.