Maple Leafs Shouldn’t Expect Oilers’ Collapse to Lead to Connor McDavid Signing

The problem? McDavid wouldn’t even consider joining the Maple Leafs. If he wants to leave the Oilers, it will likely come down to how the media treats him, if the Oilers can continue winning and staying in contention, and if he likes the future outlook of the team. The Maple Leafs are going to be a tough sell considering they’re set to lose Mitchell Marner and John Tavares this summer, and have several long-term deals that hinder their chances of ending their Stanley Cup drought anytime soon.

On Thursday (Jun. 19), McDavid spoke to the media and was asked about his looming contract extension discussions and if he could shed light on anything going on with negotiations. While he didn’t flat-out say he was going to re-sign with the Oilers, he didn’t provide any indication he was going to look elsewhere. Similar to the Leon Draisaitl situation when he was dealing with his negotiations, McDavid was careful not to say anything that would cause him to lose leverage in contract talks, but Oilers fans already seem to be looking too far into it, as do fans of other teams.

When a star player is nearing the end of his contract, fans and pundits alike love to imagine a world where that superstar could play somewhere else. Sidney Crosby, Cale Makar, and Auston Matthews have all seen their names up in trade rumours and hypothetical ideas in the past, and the situation with McDavid is no different. While star players do leave their teams from time to time, a perfect example being Steven Stamkos going to the Nashville Predators or Wayne Gretzky being traded from the Oilers, that won’t be happening with McDavid.

Yes, not being able to win a Stanley Cup this late into his career is going to upset McDavid, but it can’t be denied that the Oilers’ window to win a championship is still open. They will be in contention for at least a few more seasons, and McDavid’s comments to the media were simply strategic, so he can get the most out of his next deal.

What Will McDavid’s Next Contract Look Like?

This is a question everyone has started to ask, and there isn’t a concrete report or rumour that can properly identify what McDavid could be looking for on his next deal. The only thing we know for sure is that he will become the highest-paid player in the league.

He could look at a shorter four or five-year contract, or he could look to lock up for eight more seasons like his teammate Draisaitl did, but it would be surprising if the cap hit of his next deal came in under $16 million annually.

Let’s say, for a second, McDavid does get to free agency next summer and considers some other teams. The Maple Leafs will not be one of those teams. There is almost no way they can free up enough money to take a legitimate run at signing him, and it makes zero sense to say they would be the frontrunner if he chooses to leave the Oilers.

Fans are going to have to be patient with McDavid as he negotiates, but a deal will get done. It will be a matter of when, not if, he extends with the Oilers.

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