The Toronto Maple Leafs are known to consistently pursue big-ticket free agents. There was a time when Wayne Gretzky could have come to Toronto. The Leafs were in play to land the Great One n 1988 and then in 1996.
The Leafs also made a run at Steven Stamkos back in 2016, and then landed John Tavares, the biggest free agent at the time.
This time around, the rumour mill appears to grind in favour of a potential big name coming to Toronto: Connor McDavid.
Now, let me be clear about something: Talk of McDavid joining the Toronto Maple Leafs is merely speculation at this point. There is no talk that McDavid plans to leave the Edmonton Oilers, nor is there any indication that McDavid would sign with the Leafs.
But there are some rumblings that McDavid may not be inclined to re-sign with the Oilers. According to ESPN’s senior NHL writer Greg Wyshynski, McDavid may not stay in Edmonton past next season. Wyshynski recently told Jeff Marek that he’s not convinced that Connor McDavid wants to stay in Edmonton.
Specifically, the assumption was that McDavid would automatically stay with the club after the Oilers re-signed Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year contract extension. But if Wyshynski’s opinion is to be trusted, the Oilers may have bet on keeping Draisaitl at the expense of losing McDavid.
So, if McDavid does bolt from Edmonton, could the Toronto Maple Leafs be the preferred destination? Could McDavid mesh on the same team with Auston Matthews? Could such a combination even be possible?
All of those questions depend on whether the Leafs can offer McDavid a chance to win a Stanley Cup. Given McDavid’s Hall of Fame resume, the only thing missing is a Cup. If he can’t win one in Edmonton, he may be inclined to join a team that can offer him that opportunity sooner rather than later.
Toronto Maple Leafs Must Win a Cup to Land Connor McDavid
An Auston Matthews-Connor McDavid reunion could be possible if the Toronto Maple Leafs win a Stanley Cup before the Edmonton Oilers.
If the Oilers fizzle out of the playoffs this season, and the Leafs go on a strong Cup run, or even win it, McDavid could be inclined to play out his final season in Edmonton before moving on to a team that could offer him a real chance to win a Cup.
Edmonton was close last season, and are the favorite to win it this year, but there are no guarantees. Sure, the Oilers are about as good as they come this year, but the playoffs are a different beast.
As such, if Edmonton does not win a Cup this season, McDavid could weigh his options elsewhere. Could the Leafs be that option? McDavid is from Ontario. He played Junior for the Erie Otters and is among OHL legends.
So, why wouldn’t he consider Toronto as an option? Could playing with Auston Matthews on the same seem threatening to his legacy as a superstar?
If McDavid values winning a Cup over everything else, joining the Leafs, only if the Leafs offer a realistic chance at winning a Cup, could make sense.
Realistically, I think McDavid stays in Edmonton. The Oilers will mortgage the farm to keep him. With the salary cap ceiling going up next season and for the foreseeable future, it makes sense that McDavid stays.
But then again, things can change. If the Oilers can’t get over the hump, McDavid may grow impatient. Another contender, like the Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, or even the New York Rangers could be the beneficiaries of the Oilers’ inability to win a Cup.