Insider drops a Connor McDavid bomb about the Leafs

It only takes one comment to ignite speculation across the NHL, and this week Pierre LeBrun got quite the rumour going when he said on TSN:

“There isn’t a day that goes by that the Leafs front office isn’t internally wondering, I wonder what’s happening with Connor McDavid and the Oilers, just like fifteen other teams.”

It’s not exactly a surprise, but it still hits hard and gets fans talking. The fanbase in Toronto is holding on to any hope, rumour and report that there is a chance the Leafs could land the Oilers' captain in the near future. Any hint of uncertainty around McDavid’s long-term future in Edmonton sends shockwaves across the league. With the Oilers falling short in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, rival teams are already calculating scenarios, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are right there among them.

For the Leafs, the idea of McDavid eventually wearing their uniform is both fantasy fuel and strategic curiosity. As LeBrun noted, they’re far from alone: half the league would love to know if there’s ever a crack in the Oilers’ relationship with the best player on the planet and if he could test free agency if a contract stalemate lingers… And since it is a childhood dream of McDavid to play in Toronto, LeBrun's statement got everyone thinking it could come true...

The NHL salary cap is projected to rise dramatically over the next few seasons: from $88 million in 2024–25 to $95.5 million in 2025–26, $104 million in 2026–27, and an eye-popping $113.5 million in 2027–28. That kind of financial landscape could open the door for Toronto to chase a superstar in his prime. By 2026–27, the Leafs are projected to have around $22 million in available cap space. Conveniently, that’s the same offseason McDavid’s current deal with the Oilers is set to expire.

For now, McDavid remains locked in on delivering Edmonton its first Cup since 1990. But speculation like this is a reminder of two things: the Leafs are always hunting for ways to build around Auston Matthews, and McDavid will always be the subject of “what ifs” until he hoists a Cup with the Oilers.