The Maple Leafs may be staring at a much better season if the changes under GM John Chayka land the way Toronto hopes. The roster has been tweaked in a way that feels less like a splash and more like a cleanup job - the kind of moves meant to correct what didn’t work and sharpen the fit across the lineup. There’s more depth, more quality, and a cleaner overall structure, and that can matter fast.
The biggest swing areas are on the blue line and in net. If the defence really is more organized than it was before, and Sergei Bobrovsky gives Toronto even a modest bounce back, the ripple effect could be significant. Add in some natural growth from the younger players, and the Leafs have a real chance to take a noticeable step forward.
In Edmonton, the conversation has shifted to Connor McDavid’s next contract, and the numbers being tossed around are already enormous. After Leo Carlsson and Connor Bedard set the market with huge extensions, analysts on Spittin’ Chiclets floated figures like $23M and $25M per year for McDavid.
Jason Gregor doesn’t see it playing out that way. The Edmonton analyst believes McDavid’s priority will be winning a Stanley Cup, not chasing the biggest possible payday. If he still hasn’t lifted the Cup when his next deal comes due, Gregor thinks McDavid is more likely to stay team-friendly, much like he did on his $12.5M AAV extension, and focus on helping build a winner.
Meanwhile, in Columbus, Jet Greaves and the Blue Jackets are headed to arbitration on Thursday after failing to bridge a major salary gap. Greaves is seeking a $7.5M cap hit, while Columbus is holding at $2.8M, a difference that leaves little room for compromise unless the sides settle late or let a third party decide.
Greaves has a breakout season to point to, posting a .908 save percentage and a 2.80 GAA. Still, the ask is based on a relatively small sample, and that’s part of what makes this a tricky negotiation.
Columbus also has two other unsigned RFAs to sort through, so the team is trying to keep its cap picture under control. If the case ends in a one-year bridge deal, the expected range is $4.5M to $5.5M.
In Other News...
Oilers Should Resist The Temptation Of An Evander Kane Reunion
The chatter around Evander Kane has started up again, and for an Edmonton team that knows exactly what he can bring, it is easy to see why the idea keeps resurfacing. Kanes previous run with the Oilers gave him a reputation as a heavy, direct winger who could change the tone of a game, and there is always some appeal in a player who already understands the market and the expectations that come with it.
But the case for a reunion gets complicated fast. Kane is still believed to have enough speed and shot power to matter, yet the accuracy and overall finish that once made him such a dangerous scorer have not looked the same since the wrist injury that altered his game, and the off-ice questions that have followed him for years never fully disappear from the conversation. A bargain contract might make the risk easier to stomach, but Edmonton would still have to decide whether the upside is worth betting on a player whose margin for error keeps shrinking. [Read more 🡒]
Connor McDavid Contract Debate Just Got More Intense For Oilers Fans
Connor McDavids next contract is already a topic of conversation in Edmonton, even though the one he signed in October does not kick in until the 2026-27 season. The Oilers captain stayed at $12.5 million annually on a two-year, $25 million extension, but the bigger question around him has quickly shifted from what he makes now to what kind of player he wants to be paid like later.
Jason Gregor added another layer to that debate by suggesting McDavid may not be chasing a maximum payday if the Stanley Cup still eludes him when the next decision comes around. It is the kind of speculation that hangs over every superstar negotiation, but with McDavid, the stakes feel different because his priorities have long been tied to winning, and the answer to that question could shape how Edmonton plans for the future. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers May Be Taking A Risk Fans Know Too Well Up Front
The Oilers are being urged to resist the familiar urge to chase another top-six winger before the season begins, with one Oilers Nation analyst making the case that Edmonton already has enough scoring on hand to start the year. The argument leans on the idea that the roster still features multiple players who can chip in offensively, while the bigger stars can continue to drive the attack without forcing the front office into a rushed move.
Stan Bowman, meanwhile, appears more likely to keep cap space available and wait for the right in-season opportunity rather than spend early just to fill a perceived need. Edmonton has been linked to names such as Vladimir Tarasenko and Claude Giroux as possible later additions, but the broader plan seems to be patience first and reinforcement only if the market opens the right door. [Read more 🡒]