Connor McDavid and His Future With the Toronto Maple Leafs Will Hinge on Current Stanley Cup Finals

Any Toronto Maple Leafs fan would love to see Connor McDavid dress in the blue and white one day. After all, McDavid has been the front and center of the hockey universe ever since making his debut in the NHL back in 2015.

Because he was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, it may not be as far-fetched as it would seem for the Toronto Maple Leafs to attempt to bring home the superstar in the coming year or two, as McDavid’s current contract is set to expire during the 2025-26 NHL season.

So then what are the chances that the Leafs can actually make it happen?

Well, like it or not, a lot of it will have to do with the potential outcome of the current Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers.

In recent years, McDavid and his Oilers’ team had made some steady progression in terms of playoff success, going from losing out in the first round to to the Conference Finals and then finally to playing for the Stanley Cup.

With this already being his ninth season with the Oilers group, frustrations had been mounting for the 27-year-old superstar. That was why he coined the infamous “it’s cup or bust” notion following their earlier than expected exit from the playoffs last season.

As a result, there’s a huge unsettling yet conspicuous feeling that the current Stanley Cup Finals will play a huge role in dictating McDavid’s future.

If the Oilers end up winning it all, it practically reassures McDavid that he had made the right decision in sticking with group and finally bred success. In doing so, it would give him the belief and motivation to build a potential dynasty with the Oilers, just like how Wayne Gretzky did back in his prime. As a result, that would end any dream of him of ever suiting up in a Maple Leafs uniform.

On the other hand, if the Oilers were to fail to achieve their goal in hoisting the Cup, that would mean McDavid would have wasted almost a decade’s time with the same core group, with each time ending up in failure.

Therefore, if they are unable to fulfill their destiny this season, it gives an alarming signal to McDavid that this group just won’t be able to get it done. As a result, the possibility of McDavid requesting a trade or leaving in free agency in a couple of years would then suddenly become a more realistic outcome. With Toronto being his hometown, no doubt it would be the top destination on his list. So to have both McDavid and Auston Matthews playing together?

One can only dream.