As hockey fans await the start of the Stanley Cup final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, some pundits are pondering Connor McDavid’s future in Edmonton.
McDavid has a year remaining on his contract and will be UFA-eligible next July. The Oilers can sign their 28-year-old captain to an extension on July 1.
Larry Brooks of the New York Post acknowledged that McDavid could re-sign “without fuss or muss” this summer, becoming the first Oilers icon to spend his entire NHL career in Edmonton. However, he also wondered if No. 97 might follow the example of former Oiler Mark Messier and head to the New York Rangers next summer with or without a championship.
Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star noted the dream of McDavid returning home to Toronto hasn’t died for some Maple Leafs fans. He thinks the only way that happens is if the Oilers’ superstar wins the Stanley Cup this year and decides he needs a bigger challenge, like helping the Leafs end their 58-year Cup drought.
Arthur admits the notion is a long shot. So is Brooks’ idea of McDavid signing with the Rangers.
In Messier’s day, the Oilers’ dynasty was dismantled because their eventual-bankrupt owner couldn’t afford to maintain a Cup contender in an era without cost certainty. Today, the Oilers are a contender with stable, deep-pocketed ownership, playing under a salary cap system with revenue sharing that allows them to retain their biggest stars.
Prediction: the Oilers sign McDavid this summer to an eight-year extension, making him the NHL’s highest-paid player starting in 2026-27.
Meanwhile, speculation persists over whether Mitch Marner re-signs with the Toronto Maple Leafs or tests the UFA market on July 1.
The Toronto Star’s Gord Stellick believes the Vegas Golden Knights will aggressively pursue the 28-year-old right winger this summer. He claimed they weren’t happy with their second-round post-season exit and could shed some aging players for younger talent.
The Hockey News’ Julian Gaudio cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman claiming the Golden Knights discussed a trade last summer involving Marner with the Golden Knights. He believes it fell through because the Leafs wanted defenseman Shea Theodore as part of the return, and there was no guarantee that Marner would agree to the move.
Jim Parsons explored the possibility of the Golden Knights pursuing Marner. He said the team has traded for Tomas Hertl, Noah Hanifin, Jack Eichel and Mark Stone in the past, so they aren’t afraid to make a big splash.
Speaking of the Golden Knights, Damien Cox suggested the Leafs should follow Vegas’ example by trading futures for players who can help them win the Stanley Cup. He also advocated re-signing Marner, as his departure would hurt their offense and special teams play.
Given GM Brad Treliving’s recent remarks about changing the Leafs’ DNA, Marner’s return seems unlikely. Assuming he does and Treliving follows Vegas’ example, there’s no guarantee they would reach the same level of success as the Golden Knights.
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