On one hand, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers are both getting ready for the postseason as the 2024-25 regular calendar comes to a close, on the other, both teams are also getting ready for a busy summer. While the Maple Leafs will attempt to hold on to star free agents John Tavares and Mitch Marner, the Oilers will have to their focus to re-signing superstar captain Connor McDavid. And while there is a strong feeling that McDavid is in Edmonton to stay, he was recently connected to the Maple Leafs by two insiders.

In a recent column, both Jonas Siegel and James Mirtle of The Athletic pitched a scenario in which McDavid could be targeted by Toronto if he hits the free agent market, should the Maple Leafs be unable to bring back Marner and/or Tavares.
“What if, for instance, McDavid opts not to sign an extension with the Edmonton Oilers this summer and somehow becomes available? If he were to leave Edmonton, the chance to play for his hometown team, and with close pal Matthews — who shares the same agent in Judd Moldaver — could be appealing.”

It is a fact that there is some uncertainty surrounding the Maple Leafs, seeing that they have yet to re-sign either Marne or Tavares, who are both pending unrestricted free agents and could hit the open market on July 1st.

Therefore, this prompted, in a very logical way, both Siegel and Mirle to shed the spotlight on McDavid, as he becomes the best backup plan for the Maple Leafs if they have the cap space available and Edmonton can’t get an extension done.

Unfortunately for the fanbase in Toronto, there is no real connection between the Maple Leafs and McDavid, but in Edmonton, especially if the Oilers aren’t the successful in the postseason, the captain could reconsider his loyalty to the team that selected him first overall in 2015.

The Maple Leafs are likely to be aggressive during free agency, and the level would only increase if Marner and / or Tavares walk.

The belief in Edmonton however remains that McDavid will become the highest-paid player in the NHL, and it’s fair to assume he could break $15 million per season on his next contract.

With the Oilers.

When his close friend and teammate Leon Draisaitl re-signed in Edmonton for eight years, it was almost the inevitable confirmation that McDavid would follow suit. He is eligible to get a new deal on July 1st, and I guess the scenario could get debunked then.

Or rumours will get wilder…

While it is obvious that the Oilers will do everything in their power to keep McDavid around, you have to wonder if Siegel and Mirtle’s reports got him, and the Maple Leafs thinking…

Cameras catch Brad Marchand trash talking the Senators.