McDavid Signing with Maple Leafs no longer crazy as you would think – the hockey writers Toronto Maple Leafs Latest News, Analysis and more

As soon as the Edmonton Oilers fell The Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup final For the second consecutive year, the immediate focus of the organization and fanbase shifted to the future of Connor McDavid. The 28-year-old had just completed the second last season of his contract and was eligible to sign an extension from 1 July. At the time, most of them were convinced that an agreement would be reached.

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There was sufficient reason for optimism with regard to an McDavid extension. First of all, he plays in a team that has proven the best in the Western Conference. They not only played in two-Straight Stanley Cup Finals, but they could also continue to the final of the Western Conference in 2022.

This current Oilers group is also still set to fight. Leon Draisaitl is locked up in the long termWhat suggested that McDavid would do the same for many. They also have people like Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm in the fold, and have one Young talent is coming In Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard. Even with all that, however, we are close to mid -September, and McDavid still has to sign an extension. The question is why?

McDavid can struggle with Maple Leafs -Kans

It seems that since McDavid has joined the NHL, many from the east have finished the days until he is part of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. Many, including myself, wrote that off As complete and completely waste. After all, he was not forced Sign an eight -year extension with the oilers In 2017. He did this because he wanted to stay in Edmonton and bring the city a Stanley Cup.

Fast forward, and that Stanley Cup victory has yet to be done. They got very close, but McDavid is smart enough to realize that close it doesn’t cut when it comes to his legacy. To cement himself as the best player in the NHL history, he has to win, and he may not have the feeling that he can do this in an aging oilers team.

Although McDavid recently said that His desire is to win in EdmontonOne cannot help it, but wonders if the idea of ​​adapting to his hometown of Maple Leafs lingers in mind. This is something that would not have been possible in years before, but With Mitch Marner from imageIt is a movement that MAPLE LEAFS MENTAL Manager Brad Treliving may be able to deduct.

Seeing a player choosing to go home to Toronto would not be a first for the NHL. In fact, we saw it all so long ago. During his last season at the New York Islanders, John Tavares said time and again He wanted to stay an islanderOnly to leave the organization in a free agency to become a member of the Maple Leafs, a team instead He grew on aliens.

Just like Tavares, this does not mean that McDavid lies. There was probably a large part of Tavares who wanted to stay loyal to the team that first brought him into the design in the design and observed his life goals. Now it is clear, however, that Tavares was probably torn apart between the stay in Long Island or his child’s dream. It is quite possible that McDavid struggles with exactly the same decision.

McDavid’s legacy would be complete by winning in Toronto

The fact that McDavid still has to bring a cup to Edmonton gives him sufficient reason to linger, although at the same time, returning home to the Maple Leafs to put an end to their long cup -dried, his legacy would only improve one of the games.

Many oilers fans will say that the Maple Leafs is not fighting as close as the oilers at the moment, and they are partly right. That said, if McDavid left the oilers to join the Maple Leafs, the tides would change dramatically. With a forward group, including people like McDavid, Tavares, Auston Matthews and William Nylyer, they would immediately become the favorite to win the Stanley Cup, not only in 2026-27 but also years afterwards.

Related: McDavid’s future will be a negative distraction for oilers

According to the merit of McDavid, he has done an excellent job to keep his thinking process only himself and those who are closest to him. It seems that nobody in the Hockeymedia landscape has the least indication of what he will do, even with reports that suggest a wide range of options. At the moment his thoughts have probably not been made up yet, but seeing the greatest talent of the NHL at the Maple Leafs is not nearly crazy about an idea if it seemed years ago.