Maple Leafs Connected to Connor McDavid in New Insider Report
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
According to NHL Insider Chris Johnston, if the Oilers aren't able to re-sign Connor McDavid, the Toronto Maple Leafs may have a very good shot; but so do others.
With the focus being on what free agents and players Brad Treliving can add this summer, there is also a lot of attention put towards what's going to happen in 2026's free agency class.
The potential for that group to be the wildest in history, with names like Jack Eichel, Cale Makar and Nikita Kucherov. But one name tops them all: Connor McDavid.
McDavid noncommittal, could sign a massive deal with anyone really
Unquestionably the best player in the world, the Oilers captain is in the final year of his contract and with no discussion about an extension, the rumors are getting more and more heated.
NHL Insider Chris Johnston decided to fuel that speculation on the latest edition of the Steve Dangle podcast.
Mentioning that the two sides haven't come to a deal, Johnston believes the Maple Leafs are going to be pushing hard, but so is everyone else:
If McDavid becomes a free agent, of course, the Leafs would try to sign him; they've been nuts. Any of the Original Six teams are probably feeling like they could be in that mix if they're good enough.
At this point in time, I think it's really any of the contenders. But you need to have a plan more than anything.
We all know the contract, whether it's with Edmonton or as a free agent in 2026: There's no negotiation. He's going to pick his own terms more or less, so it's about everything else around that.
At this point in time, I think it's really any of the contenders. But you need to have a plan more than anything.
We all know the contract, whether it's with Edmonton or as a free agent in 2026: There's no negotiation. He's going to pick his own terms more or less, so it's about everything else around that.
It's hard to argue that he wouldn't make any team better, and if all Original Six teams were in the mix, there's definitely a bit of a disparity.
Toronto, Montreal, and Chicago may be the best three options given that they offer either a chance to win now, a chance to win in a few years, or carry a young but potentially dangerous team and turn that rebuild into a very quick powerhouse.
But if the Maple Leafs; the team most connected to McDavid, want to sign him then what do they need to do?
Toronto needs to pay up, and pay up big
Well besides offer a blank cheque, the team has the benefit of being one of the most popular and profitable franchises in a city that bleeds hockey. Nothing against the Oilers and their rich history, but this is his childhood team; this is Toronto.
They can offer him to be the face of the entire city, he'd be able to snag any endorsement under the sun. $17-million a season? Plus another $5-million in endorsements, give him a cut of jersey sales (which will make the team ungodly amounts of money) and let him get even richer.
He also gets to be part of a 1-2 punch with Auston Matthews, still gets the benefit of William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies (who may become his new Leon) and actually gets some reliable goaltending.
But they have to make sure they have enough money to get it done in the first place, as there are so many other teams with tens of millions now, with it only growing next summer.
So the Leafs have to sell McDavid on being the hero of the franchise, whatever cost that entails.
Mitch Marner certainly couldn't do it, but perhaps Connor can.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 21 | 2466 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Connected to Connor McDavid in New Insider Report Do you think Connor McDavid will end up signing with Toronto? | ||
| Yes!! | 1039 | 42.1 % |
| Absolutely not! | 1427 | 57.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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