Maple Leafs Connor McDavid Dream Takes Big Hit

As the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to build toward next season, the front office has been searching for different ways to get over the hump. Toronto fell short of its goals again last season, and the team saw star Mitch Marner depart in free agency.

Losing Marner hurts, and the team will now need to replace his production in the lineup. However, this is easier said than done, and there are many who see the Maple Leafs taking a step back this coming season.

If this happens, it could be by design, considering the top free agents coming up next summer. Toronto has been linked to star Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, who could be a free agent next offseason.

If McDavid does become available, the Maple Leafs could be one of the top landing spots. This could see the Maple Leafs front office sit back and have a quieter offseason this year.

But NHL insider James Mirtle of The Athletic sees things a little differently.

Maple Leafs Can't Wait For Potential Connor McDavid Sweepstakes

According to Mirtle, while McDavid would be great for the team, the Maple Leafs can't wait around for him.

"This core is older. There’s not a lot coming. You’ve heard this before. But what it means is the Leafs aren’t in a great position to wait for anyone, even McDavid," Mirtle wrote.

Waiting to see if they could land McDavid would be great but there is a level of urgency within the Maple Leafs organization. Patience has been wearing thin between the fanbase, and if the team were to struggle this year, things could get a little ugly.

Toronto could still go after McDavid next summer if he were to become a free agent, but this team needs to make win-now moves for this season. The entire situation around the Maple Leafs remains fluid, and things could change at any given moment, considering the pressure-cooker type of franchise that they are.