Hockey's Elite Players Considering Landmark Free Agency Moves to Toronto?

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Dawson Mckenzie
February 6, 2024 (10:14)

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After the weekend of festivities in Toronto these two players, who are the elite of the elite, could be considering Toronto as their next destination in free agency.

Could Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Be Leafs One Day?

There is no question that Connor McDavid is the best player in the NHL right now. He just showed it in the NHL All-Star skills competition, dominating the performance. His right-hand man Leon Draistail also performed well at the event.

The two players are set to become free agents in the coming years. This is a long way away, however, when it is the biggest names in hockey, you start to think about it early. Now, Jay Rosehill of The Leafs Nation podcast discussed how Toronto could be a destination for both McDavid and Draisaitl.

"If you crunch the numbers, crunch the cap, crunch the contracts that are coming up. If those guys wanted to, they could come to Toronto and it would work. It could and would work.... There's ways to clear up our big contracts, the cap going up. I could see it happening, but it's all based on do they want to do that. Is Connor going to leave Edmonton? Is he happy there? Does he have a reason to stay there? I feel like if he doesn't win in the next two years, he's there for 10 years and then he looks back and goes, 'do I stay here? I've given them everything I can give them.'...I know Oilers fans don't want to hear about it, but I think they're worried about it."

Leafs Counting on Cap Increases and Other Things to Fall In Place For Future Moves

The cap has been confirmed to be going up next season, but the Leafs will need more than that to be able to make some moves in free agency in the coming years. With Nylander and Matthews tied up in massive deals, and Marner's next negotiation coming due, there isn't much going around.

The Leafs will need to hope that John Tavares is willing to take a massive discount. With his age and love for Toronto, he likely will, but Brad Treliving will need to make that happen if they want to make moves for free agents.

We will see what Treliving can cook up in free agency this offseason, however, it's clear he has a lot of work to do if he wants to make some moves.

As seen on Maple Leafs Daily - "Two of hockey's biggest stars actually eyeing UFA deals in Toronto?"