NHL Insider Adds Fuel to Connor McDavid-Maple Leafs Speculation
NHL Insider Adds Fuel to Connor McDavid-Maple Leafs Speculation originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
As the Edmonton Oilers prepare for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, all other 30 NHL franchises have already moved on to offseason mode.
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That means speculation around future free agents—whether or not they get to market—is ramping up to the extent of bringing Oilers' Connor McDavid and his future back to the conversation.
For what's worth, McDavid still has one season left on his eight-year, $100 million deal, but it's fair to say that the NHL's best player could become the most coveted free agent in NHL history when his contract expires in 2026.
On a Sportsnet mailbag, NHL insider Luke Fox responded to a fan who asked about the possibility of McDavid joining the Toronto Maple Leafs.
While calling it unlikely, Fox didn't dismiss the scenario entirely.
"Slim but enticing," Fox wrote. "And I do wonder how the potential availability of McDavid—who will prioritize winning over money—impacts how not just (Leafs general manager Brad) Treliving but the other 31 general managers tackle the 2025 offseason."
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Fox added that while the Oilers are expected to offer McDavid a "blank cheque," that won't be enough, or at least the only reason, to convince him to stay put in Edmonton.
"It's not a guarantee that No. 97 re-signs in Edmonton, even though the Oilers will present a blank cheque," Fox wrote. "To not keep an eye on the 2026 UFA class (as a GM), which also includes Kirill Kaprizov, Kyle Connor, Jack Eichel and Artemi Panarin, is to not do your job."
Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) carries the puck around Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34).Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
McDavid hails from the Toronto suburb of Richmond Hill, and could weigh his options depending on how Edmonton performs during the finals and next season.
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With top-dollar Leafs forward Mitch Marner likely headed elsewhere, Toronto may have as much as $44 million in projected cap space for 2026-27, according to current PuckPedia figures, with the 2026-27 NHL season expected to feature a salary cap of $104 million.
Related: Maple Leafs GM Makes 'Emotional' Admission About Discussion With Mitch Marner
Related: Matthew Tkachuk Sends Clear Message About Oilers-Panthers Stanley Cup Final
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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