The Connor McDavid to Toronto rumours won't go away and it shows a deeper story - that being the Maple Leafs lack a true secondary superstar next to Auston Matthews. They had one in Mitc Marner but couldn't retain him or find his replacement.
Speculation around McDavid's future has been a discussion point since the beginning of last summer where he signed only a two-year, $25-million deal that gave the Edmonton Oilers a much shorter timeline than they were expecting. It gives him flexibility and has previously stated he wanted to win with the team.
The Maple Leafs have been a consistent destination brought up in those discussions, and McDavid's admiration for the team is well-known. But there's no signs that he's going to be traded in general, let alone to Toronto, and it's certainly grounded more in fantasy than reality.
Toronto keeps being linked to McDavid because Matthews is the only true superstar
But these discussions have shed a new light on the Maple Leafs' desire to continually add a game-changer to the lineup and it's a reality that the Maple Leafs need to come to terms with - they didn't build a second superstar behind Auston Matthews.
For all intents and purposes, the Toronto Maple Leafs have some very good players but none has consistently produced at a franchise-changing level.
William Nylander is a top player at times but the consensus is that he's a great piece to the lineup - not a franchise cornerstone.
When Mitch Marner left, it really showed that Toronto was lacking in star power, and they had some great players but not necessarily those elite difference makers. He has five straight 75-point seasons but hasn't come close to reaching the 100-point mark like Marner, nor has he hit 50+ goals like Matthews.
John Tavares is putting up great numbers but he's past being able to carry a franchise and he's likely going to need less responsibility as the years go on. Matthew Knies has potential but needs to consistently improve his offensive game and be a perennial 30-goal, 75-point player while maintaining that intense physicality.
Gavin McKenna may be the one who puts an end to the McDavid conversation
Enter Gavin McKenna. While he still has a lot to prove at the NHL level, he has the talent and raw potential to be Toronto's answer to McDavid. If there's a chance he becomes a 100+ point player regularly then that gives the Maple Leafs a consistent threat like McDavid - on an entry level deal.
With McDavid's contract ending in 2028, that gives McKenna two seasons (2026-27, 2027-28) to get acclimated and prove that he can be the franchise cornerstone like McDavid. That should give Toronto some time to determine if McKenna is progressing towards that franchise cornerstone status or if they are still going to target McDavid if he becomes available..
Plus, if Matthews believes McKenna can be the piece needed to push them over the hump then Toronto goes from swapping one star for another to having a one-two punch that dominates the league much like McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
There's a great story to having the world's best player come home and end their championship drought but realistically it's a lot harder than you'd think. His next deal will be absurdly expensive, the Oilers hold a negotiation advantage, there are other teams who can offer more money - and still doesn't guarantee you a Stanley Cup.
The question isn't whether or not the Maple Leafs can bring Connor McDavid back home, but whether they already have a version of him waiting to be unleashed.
One that is cheaper, younger, and potentially just as dangerous.
Do you think there's any realistic way the Maple Leafs will acquire Connor McDavid?
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