One word was enough to set off the Connor McDavid rumor mill again.
A video making the rounds online shows the Oilers star being asked by a young Utah Mammoth fan what his favorite arena is outside Edmonton. McDavid paused, then gave the answer that had Maple Leafs fans buzzing: “Toronto.”
He bumped fists with the kid and kept moving toward the team bus, but that single-word reply was all it took to light up the usual debate about whether McDavid might one day “come home” and end up in Toronto.
That speculation has followed him for years because McDavid grew up a Maple Leafs fan. Still, there’s never been any real sign that he intends to leave Edmonton for Toronto. The idea lives in the fantasy category, and not much has changed there.
If McDavid ever did hit the market, the Leafs would obviously be part of the conversation. But everything around him points the other way right now. He was deeply involved in the Oilers’ major offseason decisions, including the coaching search, and Edmonton has jumped to a 7-1-1 start under Mike Babcock.
That’s the reality behind all the noise: McDavid is not sending out any obvious signal that Toronto is in his future.
Of course, the Toronto chatter is nothing new. McDavid has found ways to keep Leafs fans reading tea leaves even when he probably isn’t trying to.
Earlier this offseason, his wife Lauren launched items from her new clothing line that featured several NHL teams, including the Maple Leafs. Then she posted herself wearing Leafs gear on Instagram, and the internet did what it always does.
She later posted the Oilers version too, but by then the speculation machine was already rolling. The McDavids, intentionally or not, know how to get attention.
There’s also the fact that McDavid has long enjoyed playing in Toronto. His family and many of his closest friends still live there, so every trip gives him a chance to see people he doesn’t get to spend much time with during the season. But liking the city is a long way from choosing it as a destination.
In fact, when he was asked years ago what the best part about playing in Toronto was, he gave the most blunt answer possible: “Leaving.”
And Toronto isn’t even the only arena he’s singled out. In past interviews, McDavid said Montreal’s Bell Centre is his favorite road venue. That won’t sit great with Leafs fans, but it’s another reminder that a player enjoying a building doesn’t mean he’s plotting his next contract there.
The bigger picture is pretty simple. McDavid has spent his entire career in Edmonton, built roots there, and his wife operates multiple businesses in the city, including a cocktail bar.
He also took one of the biggest hometown discounts in the league to stay put. On top of that, the Oilers remain a legitimate Cup threat, and winning is what matters most to him.
So yes, the Leafs will keep getting dragged into the McDavid conversation anytime a clip like this pops up. But the facts haven’t changed. He has shown no intention of joining Toronto, and even if he eventually leaves Edmonton, there’s no guarantee the Leafs would be the destination.
For now, it’s still just a dream for Toronto fans - and another reminder that one casual McDavid quote can send the hockey world into overdrive.
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Maple Leafs Just Got Another Intriguing Option For More Size Up Front
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The 26-year-old has been productive over the past three seasons, averaging 19 goals and 19 assists, and he is still under team control beyond this year as a restricted free agent. For the Leafs, the appeal is obvious: a big body who can change the look of a forward group. The question is whether Columbus decides the right move is to keep shopping, and whether Toronto is willing to push hard enough to make the fit work. [Read more 🡒]