If you’re having deja vu about Connor McDavid trade talk, it’s because we talked about this last offseason, before the Edmonton Oilers superstar signed a two-year deal with the franchise he’s called home for his whole NHL career.
Yet here we are again. The Oilers lost to the younger, feistier Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night, eliminating Edmonton from the postseason and leaving the franchise with more questions about what will push a team over the edge that rosters two of the best players in the league.
Maybe that’s what will push McDavid out. He’s got that one year left on his contract, meaning the Oilers could worry about losing him for nothing after next season. And the deal has a no-movement clause, so McDavid can control his own destiny.
So let’s play this out. Here are possible landing spots if he does ask out:
Toronto Maple Leafs
Let’s start with the obvious: He grew up outside of Toronto and rooted for the team growing up. I’m not sure the Leafs have the kind of return the Oilers would be looking for or if Toronto would be an instant contender to make McDavid happy, but maybe just being back home would help.
New York Rangers
A franchise that’s floundering but one with some history of trading for Oilers superstars to help them win a Stanley Cup. This isn’t necessarily a move the Rangers should make as they figure out how to dig themselves out of mediocrity, but never count out the Broadway Blueshirts from making a big swing at a huge name.
Montreal Canadiens
Look at it this way: McDavid gets to stay in Canada and the Oilers presumably get to pluck some seriously talented young studs from Montreal to keep themselves in contention.
Anaheim Ducks
See above. Another young team that would get an immediate boost. Plus, joining the team that just beat you would be delicious irony. Does McDavid want to trade his home country for the sun of California?
Los Angeles Kings
Anze Kopitar is retiring, the team needs help on offense… oh, and the Wayne Gretzky trade parallels are too good not to include here. An also-ran would become an instant contender.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Connor McDavid trade rumors: 5 landing spots if Oilers star wants out