POLLS     NHL STATS     SEARCH

TRENDING NOW


NHL Insider Links Connor McDavid To Joining An Original Six Team As A Free Agent

PUBLICATION
Daniel Lucente
December 25, 2024  (9:41)
SHARE THIS STORY

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid seen during an NHL game
Photo credit: YouTube

Connor McDavid has yet to win any major championships with the Edmonton Oilers, and an NHL insider believes his chance may be better elsewhere as a free agent.

With that in mind, there are some Oilers fans who can't help but wonder if Connor McDavid will consider other options when he hits free agency in the summer of 2026.

The very best players, such as Wayne Gretzky, have moved on from their original team. More recently, NHL analyst Steve Dangle threw out a guess that Connor McDavid could end up with the New York Rangers.

"What happens when Connor McDavid becomes a New York Ranger? ... If you don't think that NHL teams in the East and in the West are going to at least watch that play out and maybe make room for him."

"I think it would be great for the health and growth of this league, if when the salary cap goes up this season and next year to North of $100 million, and we see all of these teams get a whole bunch of cap space, we can see a very similar Kevin Durant to Golden State situation, where somebody is able to steal a giant player like Connor McDavid to one of these markets and build an awesome super team."

- Steve Dangle


You can watch Steve Dangle's show mentioning McDavid here

The Rangers, however, are currently navigating through one of their most challenging periods in recent years. Costly contracts, such as Mika Zibanejad's, are weighing the team down, and the locker room atmosphere is reportedly strained.

Something has to change, and Steve Dangle suggests that McDavid might be the key to that change. From a strategic perspective, the idea isn't far-fetched.

Artemi Panarin's contract of $11.64 million is up in the same summer McDavid would hit the open market, and the Rangers are looking at the possibility of trading Chris Kreider to shed salary.

Doing those things would free an amount of space that ensures over $18 million, enough to make a competitive bid on McDavid in open free agency.

A big market like New York, with its dynamic and attractive lifestyle, is already an ideal place for free agents. Adding McDavid would not only improve the Rangers but also help the NHL in terms of placing one of its brightest stars in a marquee market.

Whether that comes to fruition is yet to be seen, but it will no doubt be talked about as 2026 gets closer.

POLL
11 HOURS AGO   |   63 ANSWERS
NHL Insider Links Connor McDavid To Joining An Original Six Team As A Free Agent

Will Connor McDavid leave Edmonton as a free agent?

Latest 10 stories
pub
HOCKEYLATEST.COM
COPYRIGHT @2024 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
TERMS  -  POLICIES  -  PRIVACY AND COOKIE SETTINGS