NHL rumors: Pierre LeBrun names Connor McDavid ‘shortlist' if he ever leaves Oilers
The post NHL rumors: Pierre LeBrun names Connor McDavid 'shortlist' if he ever leaves Oilers appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The Edmonton Oilers are licking their wounds after a second straight Stanley Cup Final loss against the Florida Panthers, and now the discussion has turned to Connor McDavid's future with the team. The man widely regarded as the best hockey player in the world is up for a new contract this offseason before he hits unrestricted free agency next summer.
Advertisement
McDavid could very well sign an extension with the Oilers, especially off the back of his previous eight-year deal worth $100 million that he is coming off of. However, if he doesn't want to re-sign with Edmonton, it would benefit the Oilers to trade him this summer and still get something back for him rather than letting him walk for nothing in free agency.
If McDavid does choose to leave Edmonton, it may not be a situation where any team can make a run at him. At this point, there are four likely spots where the former Hart Trophy winner could land if he and the Oilers end up parting ways, according to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.
'Teams like the Los Angeles Kings, with former Oilers GM Ken Holland, are keeping a close eye,' LeBrun wrote. 'If and when McDavid ever leaves, it's a short list of markets that I believe would be a fit for him: L.A., the New York Rangers, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Dallas Stars, etc. It would not be a free-for-all, with 25 teams getting a chance at it.'
The Kings already know McDavid all too well after being knocked out of the playoffs by the Oilers in each of the last four postseasons. The Stars could target the three-time league MVP to try to get over the hump that is the Western Conference Finals, where they have lost in each of the last three years.
Advertisement
Out East, the Blackhawks and the Rangers both did not meet expectations this season and missed out on the postseason, but adding a player like McDavid would immediately get them back into contention for those spots.
Right now, it is still very early in the Connor McDavid sweepstakes, and the likely outcome is still that he re-signs with the Oilers. However, if he chooses to leave, the race to get offers in will be hectic and will take over the NHL news cycle.
Related: 4 best trade destinations for Ducks' John Gibson
Related: 3 best trade destinations for Avalanche's Martin Necas
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Angels score 4 runs in 8th inning for 9-5 win over Red Sox
Zach Neto hit a leadoff homer and rookie Christian Moore had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in a four-run eighth inning that sent the Los Angeles Angels past the Boston Red Sox 9-5 on Monday night. LaMonte Wade Jr. opened the eighth with a single off reliever Garret Whitlock (5-1). Wade stole second and went to third when catcher Connor Wong's throw bounced into center field for an error. Luis Rengifo walked, and Moore delivered his sac fly for a 6-5 lead. A single by Neto, who had three hits, and an intentional walk to Mike Trout loaded the bases with two outs. Taylor Ward walked to force in a run, and Travis d'Arnaud's two-run single made it 9-5. Angels left-hander Reid Detmers escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the seventh by striking out Roman Anthony and Trevor Story with 96 mph fastballs. Sam Bachman (1-0) retired the side in order in the eighth. Angels closer Kenley Jansen left because of injury after four pitches in the ninth, and Hector Neris got the final three outs. Handed a 3-0 lead before he took the mound, Boston starter Walker Buehler walked four and hit two batters with pitches during a five-run first. The right-hander finished with a career-high seven walks in four innings. But the Red Sox took him off the hook when Story hit a solo homer off reliever Ryan Zeferjahn for a 5-all tie in the sixth. Boston scored three runs on five hits, including Wilyer Abreu's two-run single, off starter Jack Kochanowicz in the first and later pulled to 5-4 on Wong's sacrifice fly in the fourth. Key moment The Red Sox squandered a chance to tie it in the fifth when they ran into two outs on the bases on the same play. Jarren Duran led off with a double but hesitated on Abraham Toro's grounder to shortstop. Duran was tagged out by Moore in a rundown, and the second baseman spun and threw to second to nail Toro trying to advance. Boston manager Alex Cora was ejected — for the second consecutive game — while arguing that Rengifo blocked second base with his knee. Key stat Neto has six leadoff homers this season, one shy of the franchise record set by Brian Downing in 1987. Up next Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (7-4, 2.20 ERA) opposes Angels lefty Tyler Anderson (2-5, 4.56) on Tuesday night.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
D-Backs vs. White Sox Highlights
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson on the key to his success in win against the Blue Jays Arizona Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson allowed one run on one hit in 5 2/3 innings, and the Diamondbacks left Toronto with a 9-5 win.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Quincy Olivari on whether he will play in summer league
In just a couple of weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers will begin their summer league schedule. It is expected that Bronny James will take part in summer league play, and many people will undoubtedly attend games and tune in on television to watch him start his second year of pro basketball. Another incoming second-year Lakers player who will appear in summer league play this year is Quincy Olivari. After going undrafted last year, he looked promising in summer league and preseason play, which earned him a two-way contract just after the end of the exhibition season. Advertisement He had a number of strong games in the G League, and he confirmed during an exclusive interview with Lakers Nation that he will take part in summer league play this year. 'I will definitely be in Summer League,' Olivari said. 'Talking with my agent, still kind of working through our options, analyzing different situations. Obviously I love the Lakers franchise but I gotta figure out what's best for me. I've done a couple free agent minicamps and I've gone to some teams and got some great feedback, which is also giving me a lot of confidence about what I've been doing this summer has been working. But I will definitely be in Summer League, for sure.' He also talked about how he's been putting in work and his mindset as far as improving. 'My college coach is now the head coach at Texas, Coach Miller, and so I brought my strength coach from Atlanta and I've been working with Zach Urbanus, who's out here in Austin and we've been at it every day except Sunday. Monday morning, 7:30 I lift and then I come back home and eat, and I go shoot again and then I go do some conditioning. It's almost like a 12-hour day every day. My mantra for next year is to be undeniable. 'It's no question that this kid belongs, that this kid can play. He's gonna make mistakes, but he's got it and we're willing to work with him so once he gets it, we'll see it. I've been kind of like talking to Kurt Rambis on and off throughout this summer and kind of like checking in on him, he's been asking me what I've been working on, like my reads off the ball screen and being able to drive left comfortably and finish around the basket, other ways to kind of find my shot after a pick-and-roll or just like working on catch-and-shoot 3s in the corner. 'Just simple things that will help my game and it will really help. I'm just excited. Next season I want to be undeniable, that's the biggest thing I'm taking into it. I know I'm gonna make mistakes, I know at times I'm gonna make the wrong decision on the court, I'm not gonna play a whole Summer League season or a whole NBA season with zero turnovers, but just making those reads and being more effective around the basket and just continuing to have fun and spread positive light. This game is beautiful when it's played the right way and I'm just so locked in on being undeniable. There's days I don't want to work out, days I don't want to do extra reps and I just close my eyes and I'm like 'This is going to be worth it.' You gotta be undeniable if you want to be one of the best.' Olivari may or may not end up becoming a full-time rotation player in the NBA. But he did endear himself to Lakers fans with his infectious and positive attitude. The team does need more serviceable guard depth, and therefore, keeping him around and developing him would be a prudent decision. The Lakers will start summer league play on Saturday, July 5, against the Golden State Warriors. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Quincy Olivari on whether he will play in summer league
