Lauren McDavid’s clothing brand has gone from Oilers country to Maple Leafs country, and that was enough to light up the rumor mill all over again.
On Wednesday, Lauren McDavid posted on Instagram Story that she and her clothing line, Sports Club Atelier, had new items to show prospective clients. The post was split into multiple parts and featured a Toronto Maple Leafs fleece sweater in dark blue, white and grey, along with a poll asking fans and clients which style they preferred.
That alone was enough to stir up fresh speculation about Connor McDavid’s future in Edmonton, even though the brand has already made clear it isn’t limited to one team. Lauren has repeatedly said that she and Connor are lifelong Edmontonians, and she has even answered, “The Oilers, obviously” when asked where her allegiance lies.
Sports Club Atelier has also already branched beyond Oilers gear. The company has worked with Hockey Canada and previously announced that it had secured an NHL licence for apparel tied to other teams. In other words, this was never meant to be strictly an Edmonton-only operation.
The Maple Leafs addition is simply the biggest expansion yet, and Toronto is a far larger market. The clothing itself appears polished and high-end, with clear attention paid to both style and comfort. For Maple Leafs fans who like wearing team gear in public, that kind of product has obvious appeal.
Still, anything involving Toronto and the McDavid name is going to get people talking. The latest drop will fuel that chatter, but the business side of it was already out in the open before this post ever went up.
That’s the reality here: Lauren and Connor are building a brand around hockey apparel, and the Maple Leafs are now part of that mix. It may keep the speculation alive, but for now, this looks like a straightforward business move - nothing more.
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