Another Original Six franchise enters the Connor McDavid sweepstakes
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Former Stanley Cup champion Mike Rupp believes the New York Rangers have quietly been positioning themselves for years to make a run at Connor McDavid, and he is not shy about saying so.
Speaking on Daily Faceoff, Rupp claimed general manager Chris Drury and Rangers management have kept flexibility in mind specifically for a shot at the Oilers captain, and he pointed to New York's history of landing Edmonton legends as part of the appeal.
I also think that they have always had an eye on Connor McDavid and that situation and monitoring that. So I think there's probably a plan to do something big. It just hasn't come to fruition up to this point.
Why This Might Not Work
The biggest obstacle is simple: McDavid is not going anywhere soon. He signed a two-year extension with Edmonton last fall that runs through 2028, and his focus remains on winning a Stanley Cup with the Oilers.
New York cannot legally negotiate with him while he is under contract, and Edmonton has given zero signals it plans to move its franchise player.
The Rangers have also traded away several key pieces recently, including Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, leaving questions about whether Broadway can rebuild fast enough to make a genuine pitch.
Why Every Team Wants Him
McDavid just won the Art Ross Trophy after posting a staggering 138 points last season. He remains the most dominant player in hockey, and any team that lands him instantly becomes a contender.
History adds intrigue to the Rangers' case specifically. New York has famously landed former Oilers icons before, most notably Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, giving Rupp's speculation a little extra weight among fans who remember that pipeline.
For now, this remains speculation rather than a formal pursuit. Still, Rupp's comments confirm what many around the league already suspected: New York is watching, and waiting, for its next franchise-altering move.
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