Insider Shares Latest on Connor McDavid's Potential Move to the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
NHL Insider John Shannon was brutally honest in his assessment of Toronto's chances of landing Connor McDavid next summer.
While Mitch Marner is all the talk this season due to his departure from the Maple Leafs, the team could be preparing to bring in someone else with perhaps a bit more pedigree and willingness to play in Toronto: Connor McDavid.
His name has been thrown about in rumors and speculation for years now, and with his contract coming to an end next summer; there's no doubt the Leafs are going to do their best to give him whatever he wants.
Edmonton May Just Be Too Comfortable For McDavid To Leave: John Shannon
As will most teams, but for NHL Insider John Shannon, he thinks that while Toronto would be a storybook destination, don't get your hopes up too soon about him jumping ship so quickly:
I see Connor re-signing in Edmonton.
I've thought this all along. When they signed Leon to his contract, that was what's supposed to happen. Connor is going to sign too. They have an amazing thing going there, something special.
A fantastic facility, an owner that is very giving to the players, they have a great lifestyle. Connor and his wife Lauren have built an unbelievable place to live in Edmonton.
I know it's hard to believe for some people in Southern Ontario, but Edmonton really does have a ton to offer.
I've thought this all along. When they signed Leon to his contract, that was what's supposed to happen. Connor is going to sign too. They have an amazing thing going there, something special.
A fantastic facility, an owner that is very giving to the players, they have a great lifestyle. Connor and his wife Lauren have built an unbelievable place to live in Edmonton.
I know it's hard to believe for some people in Southern Ontario, but Edmonton really does have a ton to offer.
Hearing that, Leafs fans might feel like they are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to potentially signing the world's best player, but they still have options come 2026.
Toronto Could End Up Making A Big Splash Anyways Come 2026
Look, we all know McDavid is the biggest fish in the pond, but there are still some potential players who might be willing to test the market.
We still could see the potential for guys like Nikita Kucherov, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Cale Makar, Patrik Laine, and Martin Necas to all test the market and all could bring in a massive improvement to the team.
While it feels as much of a pipe dream to add Kucherov, Makar, or Eichel; it's still totally feasible.
Depending on what moves the team makes this summer, they could have anywhere from $30-35M to work with in 2026, and that's not considering cap dumps like Max Domi or even Morgan Rielly.
Losing out on McDavid potentially does sting a lot, considering how he would be revered and treated by the fans, but he also would be under such a bright spotlight that he might not want to deal with the extra pressure.
He put in yet another stellar season too, with 100 points in 67 games (26G, 74A) giving him his fifth-straight 100+ point season.
He's fighting for a Stanley Cup in his second straight season, with his best friend locked up long term, and his family securely set in the Edmonton zeitgeist.
That doesn't bode well for the Maple Leafs, who are dreaming of potential glory with McDavid, but might get a hard dose of reality when all is said and done.
| POLL | ||
MAI 30 | 689 ANSWERS Insider Shares Latest on Connor McDavid's Potential Move to the Maple Leafs Will Connor McDavid entertain the thought of signing with the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 353 | 51.2 % |
| No | 336 | 48.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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