NHL Rumor Mill – August 29, 2025
More reaction to Connor McDavid’s comments about his contract status in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston noted how the hockey world sat up and took notice this week when Connor McDavid spoke with so little urgency about signing a new contract with the Edmonton Oilers.
McDavid indicated he’s committed to winning the Stanley Cup this season with the Oilers. However, he said that all options were on the table regarding his contract situation. He intends to take his time evaluating everything, indicating that he is fine either way, whether he signs before this season or not.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).
Johnston believes the Oilers would re-sign McDavid in an instant for whatever he wants. Nevertheless, the fact that he’s willing to let those discussions drift into the regular season is significant. He thinks the longer it goes, the more interesting the situation becomes.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau took note of McDavid saying he wants the group (referring to himself and his Oilers teammates) to be as dialed in as possible on winning the Cup this season, adding they don’t want distractions.
Proteau believes signing an extension with the Oilers before the start of the upcoming season will remove that distraction. He pointed out how Mitch Marner’s contract status was the subject of speculation throughout last season, and how Igor Shesterkin’s was also the subject of media chatter before he re-signed in December.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Anthony Fantucchio believes Bruins fans shouldn’t get their hopes up about the possibility of signing McDavid if he goes to market next summer. They lack the salary cap space to do so, plus they’re no longer Stanley Cup contenders.
Fantucchio pointed out that only a handful of clubs will be able to provide him with the opportunity to win the Stanley Cup. They include Toronto, Florida, Dallas, Colorado, Tampa Bay, and Vegas.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston and Proteau are correct. The longer it takes McDavid to re-sign with the Oilers, the more speculation over his future. Even if he and the club refuse to discuss the situation with the media, it will remain a topic of growing conjecture among fans and pundits.
Fantucchio is right about the Bruins having no shot at landing McDavid if he becomes a UFA next summer. Of his list of potential destinations, the most likely are the ones that can afford to pay him top dollar while giving him the best chance to win the Stanley Cup.
Of the teams listed by Fantucchio, Dallas has over $27.9 million in projected cap space (depending on what they do with RFAs Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley). Tampa Bay will have $27.75 million with Ryan McDonagh their most notable UFA and JJ Moser an RFA.
Colorado will have $26.85 million, with Martin Necas UFA-eligible in 2026 and Cale Makar due a significant raise in 2027-28. Toronto will have $24.845 million, but they’re not a realistic Stanley Cup contender given their questionable depth in goal, on defense, and on their checking lines.
Florida will have $23.1 million to re-sign or replace goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov. As for Vegas, they’ll have $20.375 million plus an extra $8.8 million in cap relief if Alex Pietrangelo remains on LTIR, but Jack Eichel is UFA-eligible next July, and they’re paying Mitch Marner $12 million annually for eight years.
Trolling? “Toronto will have $24.845 million, but they’re not a realistic Stanley Cup contender given their questionable depth in goal, on defense, and on their checking lines.“
Discuss. LOL!!!
Really? Questionable in goal? News to me. Current “checking lines” don’t look bad but it’s still the offseason so maybe you’re right? And for not being a contender, I don’t recall anyone else taking them to a game seven and not to go there but if the Leafs number one goalie wasn’t headhunted and taken out, would the result been the same? I don’t think so.
McD can’t join the Leafs. The minute he does, he’ll drop from being the best player in the game to a top ten player that’s overrated and paid.
Not trolling at all, Ron. Compared to the other teams listed, the Leafs don’t cut it as a legit Stanley Cup contender. Which has been their story for the past eight years. Over that time, I kept waiting for the breakthrough. They’re a terrific regular season team that wilts once the playoffs begin, in some cases, losing to teams they have no business losing to (Blue Jackets in 2020, Canadiens in 2021).
It won’t be easy replacing Marner’s offense or his two-way play. Their moves this year were patch jobs.
Trolling at it’s finest Lyle, Toronto’s as much of contender as the other clubs you listed. Maybe you should just ban Leaf fans, but then who would you troll. Enjoy it while you can
A little sensitive to the truth, Yogi?
Pop quiz: Of these six teams – Toronto, Florida, Dallas, Colorado, Tampa Bay, and Vegas – which ones won the Stanley Cup? Or reached the Cup Final? Or the Conference Finals over the last eight years?
Now tell me again that the Maple Leafs are as much a Cup contender as the other five.
Well when you can get Florida and Toronto in a cup final let me know. You can have the 2nd best team in the NHL and lose to the best team in the first round, by your remarks that makes you a s**t team and for a guy that makes his living off of people visiting his site, you wouldn’t think trolling his supporters would be high on his list of things to do. But Lyle if you don’t want me or other Leaf fans to come to your site, just say so
So I disagree with the assessment of the Maple Leafs as a Stanley Cup contender, and suddenly, I’m “trolling” them and don’t want Leafs fans to come to my site? Really? So you’d like me to just post up that everything’s sunshine and rainbows and how the Leafs will be a Cup contender forever, will that make you feel better?
Sorry, but I’m not going to lie or sugarcoat my opinion. Once, not too long ago, I thought they were contenders, but they’ve shown me nothing over the last eight years to indicate that they are Cup contenders heading into this season. They’ve been a very good regular season team with two playoff series wins on their resume over that period. I look at their current roster, and I don’t see them ending their playoff drought next spring unless all the other contenders are upset ahead of time.
As far as visiting this site goes, Yogi, do what you please. I’m not forcing you to visit, nor will I beg. If you can’t handle criticism of your favorite team (backed up by facts), that’s on you, not me. Cheers!
Careful Lyle. You might need security at your home before all is said and done.
I’m sorry. My trolling comment was partially tounge-in-cheek. Everyone relax lol.
Would you rate the oilers more probable cup winners over the Leafs with the Oilers D and G?
The aging team in TB looks like they are on the back nine, still good but more likely than either the oil or leafs?
I can totally see a low rating for the Leafs if they were in the Metro division but during the Leafs resurgence (drafting their core) they’ve been in the top division or close to it. One can’t just point at the results without context.
A context that includes a young rookie team and coach playing in one of the toughest division during a world pandemic. I think they did ok considering all things.
I can 100% agree the year they lost to the Habs during Covid, a team who had no reason being there to begin with and eventually made it to the finals! is reason enough to think they are not a contender. A contender makes it to the finals, like the Habs did, right? 😉
Yogi, You’re Maple Leafs Private Detective?
That’s right! Will defend Maple Leafs at all extremes!
😂 😺
Who the F wants to play for the leafs! Their fans are horrible, ask Marner. He couldn’t leave(leaf?) fast enough. The fans treated him like S and blamed him every year for their payoff failures. Just read any comment section anywhere to verify this. Some will blame the state tax issue. Fix your own state tax instead of whining about others. BTW, I don’t have a dog in this fight either.
You’re kidding right? I’ll pay them to play for them!
That’s the only thing you said worth replying to.
Oh someone’s a little sensitive. Touchy subject.
Haven’t been on the site in a few weeks and I see “Toronto will have $24.845 million, but they’re not a realistic Stanley Cup contender given their questionable depth in goal, on defense, and on their checking lines.
Nothings changed , I see.
Would anyone consider Edmonton a cup contender if McDavid couldn’t play? He makes any playoff team a contender. Back to yesterdays convo, this would be another reason for NY not to jump into an extension for Panarin.
yeah but with the Cap going up the Rangers can afford to sign McDavid AND Panarin
Cuylle-McDavid-Laf
Panarin-JT Miler-Perreault
Othmann-Trocheck-Mika Zib
those tall guys 4th line
that forward group with Igor would be insane
Honestly don’t see McDavid leaving. If he hits ufa, he’s looking at a 14/15m per cap hit. That’s about half of what NY will have available and will still need to sign 5 players to get to 23, including Schneider. Again, Panarin will be 35 when 2026/27 season starts. How much you going to give him and what younger wingers are you passing over?
Zib is not going to 3rd line. If Laf still here, I’d rather he go back to LW. Perrault is also a LW that’s been put on right side due to need.
Looking at 2026/27, Edmonton only has 11 current roster players under contract. Zero goaltenders. Who knows what McDavid is thinking. Maybe wait and see what the other pending ufa’s do.
first every Ranger forward seems to be a LW ;-0
Zib is the only player that might be able to keep up with him too. I mean you pick #97 over Panarin if you need to….
but how many times can he try to run it out in Edmonton
Depends how they used the extra cap space Slick62 and if they are a contender without him. If Draisaitl was their #1 C, that’s still better than at 27 or so teams. Probably close to 30 teams. But cap space doesn’t win games, and high end players usually don’t get to UFA status, especially C’s.
If the Oil seriously don’t think he will sign there they need to have the trade conversation with him. Can’t let a player of that quality walk for nothing. But McDavid’s call as he has control.
Since that hasn’t happened, that we know of, makes me think they are confident it gets done.
Might simply be waiting until he gets back to Edmonton, sit in a room, get it done. That’s what happened with Draisaitl if I recall.
McDavid is a goner! As I don’t think Edmonton as of today will even be in the Stanley Cup finals this year. This team lost some key players this offseason and still have a goalie issue.
Dallas waiting to just sign McDavid as a RFA would be an insane lineup… and they could fit resigning Robertson and Harley under the cap
Johnston McDavid Rantanen
Robertson Hintz Seguin
Duchene-Steel-Benn
Back-Faksa-Bourque
hmmm yeah, insane maybe … but by that time Duchene would be 36y/o, Benn 37y/o and Seguin 35y/o … and I don’t think getting better with age.
well those 3 are 3rd liners next season
MCDavid Rantanen Johnston Roberton Hintz…
that is a nice top 6
$15,850,000 on 3rd liners?
And McDavid, Rantanen, Johnston, Robertson, Hintz adds up to a “nice top 5” – not 6. 🙂
Have to agree with Yogi here . Come on, the only reason the Oilers are a contender is because of McDavid lol. Leafs D is solid, their goalies are solid and their botton 6 are vastly improved. Why is at soon as someone gets sent to the leafs their value is dimished lol. They were the only team to take Florida to 7 games and that was with a non existent Mitch marner…
Boston has no shot at Mcdavid but bringing in Eichel isn t a bad option.
Holy sh#t, the Leafs fans on this page have some sensitivity issues. Just realize that not every player on the planet yearns to be a Leaf like Pajama Pants Tavares. Not every person has the (seemingly mandated) opinion that the Leafs are perennial Stanley Cup Champion odds on favorites. Guess what… they aren’t. They are perennial playoff participants with little to no recent success. You should be used to it by now. Seriously.
The TML organization reminds me of the girl dressed up in her prom gown waiting at the door,but without a date.
I don’t think anyone in here could ever accuse me of being a Toronto fan … but at the same time I’ve been following the game long enough to learn that you don’t write off any team with that much talent in August!
First of all, they did finish with 108pts for 2nd-best in the Conference, while their goal differential of +37 ranked 3rd. They tied with Washington for the top road record of 25-13-3 and in goals-for their 268 was behind only Tampa (294) and Washington (285) while their goals-against of 231 was back of only Tampa (219), Florida (223) and New Jersey (222) – and in both categories, not by a helluva lot. Their goaltending was solid with gaa averages of 2.14 (Stolarz) and 2.73 (Woll) along with save %s of 0.926 (Stolarz) and 0.909 (Woll). I can name a lot of teams that would love to have that.
Yes, all eyes will be on their production without Marner, and while I agree there is no one individual added since the end of last season who will come close to matching his production, we have no idea what overall effect newcomers like Maccelli, Joshua and Pezetta will have on other aspects of the game and, collectively, could bite into that lost production, aided by big Knies who, I’ll bet, will continue to add substantially to his offensive production.
And there is still the distinct possibility that one or more of Robertson, Kampf and Jarnkrok could be moved out before the season starts, and that top prospect Cowan coukd crack the line-up with a good camp.
In short, it’s not logical to let dislike of a team – for whatever reason but I think mainly media-generated – to be judgemental before they even lace on skates for the first time leading to the new season.
If I’m wrong, George, I’ll have no problem admitting it, but I’m not going to sugarcoat what I’ve seen from the Leafs. And what I’ve seen is a very good regular season club that has only won two playoff rounds in eight years. Sorry, that doesn’t put them in the same category as Dallas, Vegas, Florida, Tampa Bay, and Colorado as Cup contenders. Not even close.
Heck, Carolina has had a much better playoff record than the Leafs over that time frame, and I’m not even putting them in the same category as Dallas, Vegas, Florida, Tampa Bay, and Colorado as Cup contenders. (though I’d love to be wrong…)
Plus, they didn’t lose anyone as significant as Marner in the offseason.
I agree with Lyle, leafs won’t even make the playoffs let alone be a contender
To be fair, I do expect the Leafs to make the playoffs.
Leafs remind me of Boudreau coached Capitals of the past
It isn’t about TML being a good or bad team but losing Marner certainly doesn’t make them a better team.
Getting into the playoffs regularly but failing to gain any traction with the same top guys doesn’t bode well regarding their ability to get over the hump.
You like to see a progression leading to what’s a short window before falling off and that growth isn’t there.
I don’t see McDavid leaving Edmonton but if he did Vegas is the best bet.
I’m afraid you’re right re McDavid’s eventual destination – if he doesn’t re-up in Edmonton. Either Vegas – or Miami )never count them out with the way things tend to unfold there.
Nah. Everyone. Yins are all wrong. With Malkin retiring after this season pens need a new 2nd line center n at. Mcdavid to the pens. Duh.
Nope. Every current, future, and past player longs desperately to don the Maple Leafs jersey. All of them. The only reason there are 32 teams is that there isn’t enough room on Toronto’s roster to accommodate everyone. Don’t you know that by now?
Josh Gorges is the poster boy for players yearning to be a TML. 🙂
They won’t need McDavid to replace Malkin, they’ll have Gavin McKenna.
On mcdavids 2nd line. I mean neither one will top Crosby rakell and rust.
They won’t need McDavid, they’ll have McKenna!
Last time I checked the Leafs have won 2 playoff series in the last 20 years. What exactly makes them a Stanley Cup favourite?
The greatest irony would be McDavid signing with Vegas, Eichel signing with Edmonton and the Oilers winning the 26/27 Cup
Better than that would be for Marner and Vegas to win it this year and Marner named MVP. The Toronto rooting, Marner blaming camp would either have to admit that the Leafs aren’t as good as they thought (after all, Marner’s statistical success is or was a result of the team he played for, right?), or that Marner was better than they gave him credit for and they shouldn’t have driven him out of town. Either way would be aces in my book.
Boston and McDavid:
I believe Boston is the perfect fit for the 2025-26 season if Connor decides to play out his contract.
Which may be unlikely since this would distract a lot from Oilers cup run. But, theoretically:
Cap space now: 2 million
Cap rises: 10
Arvidsson (is not resigned): 4
Zadorov, Lohrei and Jokiharju makes 11 mill.