Fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be excused if they have dreams of current Edmonton Oilers team captain Connor McDavid, an Ontario native who grew up rooting for the club, joining the franchise in free agency next offseason.
It would, of course, be the biggest signing in Maple Leafs history if that were to occur. As it currently stands, McDavid is only signed with the Oilers for another season and has yet to agree to a new extension.
While there has been no shortage of fanfare in social media circles about McDavid potentially returning home and signing with the Maple Leafs, one noted Leafs Insider’s wish of making it so didn’t exactly receive the heartiest of receptions.
Leafs Morning Take Host Nick Alberga Mocked By Fans For Connor McDavid Take
Maple Leafs Insider Nick Alberga, host of Leafs Morning Take, recently wrote on his X account that Mitch Marner’s departure to the Vegas Golden Knights this offseason could potentially pave the way for McDavid to join Toronto next offseason.
“If Marner leaving brings us McDavid..,” he wrote.Â
If Marner leaving brings us McDavid..
— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) September 5, 2025
Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, ending what had been an extremely prosperous tenure in Toronto with no shortage of success in the regular season, but multiple disappointments in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Right away, Maple Leafs fans began opposing Alberga’s idea of McDavid arriving in Toronto, especially after how things ended with Marner. One fan asked, “You guys ran local boy Marner out of town. You think anyone Toronto boy wants to play for the leafs now, let alone McDavid???”
You guys ran local boy Marner out of town. You think anyone Toronto boy wants to play for the leafs now, let alone McDavid???
— Ronnie Johnson (@KurtMatheSpec) September 5, 2025
Another fan noted such a move would be extremely difficult with the salary cap, saying, “Not gonna matter. They would have 40% of the cap tied up in 2 players. You can’t build a team like that. Look at every cup winner in the past 10 years. They may have been up against the cap but it’s spread to get broad talent not concentrated in few.”
Not gonna matter. They would have 40% of the cap tied up in 2 players. You can’t build a team like that. Look at every cup winner in the past 10 years. They may have been up against the cap but it’s spread to get broad talent not concentrated in few.
— Billyo (@billyo94) September 5, 2025
One sarcastic fan replied, “Pretty sure he wants to win a Cup so that rules out Toronto.”
Pretty sure he wants to win a Cup so that rules out Toronto.
— Jimmy Dunks (@JimmyDunks) September 5, 2025
One fan went too far to call out the delusion. Practically, she wrote, “It’s ok to have dreams, but no.”
It’s ok to have dreams, but no.
— *~Bunni~* (@evdramaqueen) September 5, 2025
The chances of McDavid realistically joining the Maple Leafs in free agency are likely slim. Toronto is perhaps the NHL’s most media-intensive market, where players are constantly under the microscope, and McDavid would likely never have a moment’s peace in that environment.
Winning the Stanley Cup is McDavid’s priority, and given Toronto’s lack of playoff success, it could prove to be a hard sell – even for the prospect of playing for his hometown team.
