Pierre LeBrun Confirms the Teams That Were Eyeing Connor McDavid if He Hit Free Agency
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NHL analyst Pierre LeBrun has confirmed the NHL teams that were considering targeting Oilers captain Connor McDavid if he became a UFA next summer.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid is staying put, at least for now, in Edmonton. He signed a 2 year contract extension rather than become arguably the highest profile UFA in NHL history next summer.
He took an incredible discount as well, settling on an AAV (average annual value) of $12.5 million over the next 2 years, far below what most anticipated his new deal to be.
NHL analyst Pierre LeBrun is now confirming that there were a handful of teams in the mix to try and sign McDavid away from the Oilers if he had hit free agency, as he now apparently will in 2028.
LeBrun named the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Dallas Stars as possibilities that were going to try and lure McDavid away from Edmonton next summer had he not signed his new deal.
Pierre LeBrun: Re Connor McDavid extension: LA was definitely going to be all in; the Leafs for sure; Rangers, Stars, several teams were keeping a close eye on; some of those teams...now they know they can be aggressive here and go another path - Insider Trading (10/7)
Connor McDavid Took a Major Discount on His Two-Year Deal
Most fans and analysts anticipated McDavid getting an AAV of anywhere between $14 and $17 million.
His fellow superstar teammate Leon Draisaitl signed last year for an AAV of $14 million, a number most believed would be matched.
But right now, McDavid is signaling that he believes in the championship window that he and the Oilers are in, and he wants to win a Stanley Cup as did previous Oilers greats like Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier did in northern Alberta.
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