You know it's bordering on the NHL offseason when one rumor spreads like wildfire. This time around, it's a piece of speculation connecting Connor McDavid to the Montreal Canadiens that has sent shockwaves through the hockey world, rapidly creating a mountain out of a molehill in the 2026 off-season.
A trade involving the NHL's biggest superstar is still a long shot, but a combination of McDavid's short-term contract strategy, Edmonton's disappointing playoff exit, and recent insider reports has fueled widespread discussion about what his future could look like.
Much of the chatter stems from the contract McDavid signed in October 2025. Rather than committing to a maximum eight-year extension, he agreed to a two-year, $25 million deal carrying a $12.5 million cap hit through 2028. The move effectively put pressure on the Edmonton Oilers to prove they can remain championship contenders during that window.
That pressure only intensified after Edmonton's surprising first-round playoff loss to the Anaheim Ducks , a defeat that ultimately led to the dismissal of head coach Kris Knoblauch.
The rumors gained even more traction when Canadiens insider Marc-Olivier Beaudoin reported that two sources told him Montreal would be one of McDavid's preferred destinations, were he to leave the green pastures of Oil Country.
"I was confirmed that in the event of a situation where Connor McDavid wanted to leave Edmonton, the #CH would be on his very short list of a few teams where he would agree to be traded. Or to sign if he reaches full autonomy on July 1, 2028," Beaudoin said .
Beaudoin also claimed that during his recent visit to Montreal for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, McDavid spent time exploring neighborhoods in Brossard and Westmount. He further suggested that the Canadiens and New York Rangers would be among the teams McDavid would most seriously consider if he ever chose to move on from the Oilers.
The report quickly sparked reactions across the hockey world.
The Bleed Oil Blue channel mocked the rumors, joking, "Every day it's something new about McDavid. Now people are saying he's visiting neighborhoods in Montréal . Maybe that's just where the Uber was going." The outlet also laughed off the mention of the Rangers as a preferred destination, suggesting New York is light-years away from championship contention.
Jason Gold was even more dismissive, arguing that similar rumors emerge whenever a star player spends time in Montreal during the offseason. He called the report "just another baseless rumour" and questioned whether McDavid was even in the city for anything beyond the Grand Prix.
Others were more intrigued. NHL analyst Randy Timmins added fuel to the discussion with nothing more than an eye emoji on social media, a subtle reaction that many fans interpreted as curiosity about the report.
Veteran hockey journalist Jimmy Murphy shifted the conversation toward the realities of a potential trade. He retweeted a post that read, "If McDavid is traded, his return will be much lower than what you'd expect a player of his calibre to receive," because any acquiring team would be reluctant to dismantle its core.
Instead, the post suggested a package would likely be built around draft picks, prospects, and secondary roster pieces.
Meanwhile, one anonymous hockey insider took the opposite approach, arguing that if he were Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes, virtually no asset would be off limits in a pursuit of the NHL's biggest superstar, even floating, "I would even consider moving Alex Newhook and a 1st for McDavid."
Despite the frenzy, Beaudoin stressed that there is currently no indication McDavid has asked for a trade or plans to leave Edmonton. The report simply suggested that Montreal would be one of his preferred destinations if that situation ever changed.
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McDavid holds a full no-movement clause, meaning he would have complete control over where he goes next, leaving any potential destination largely in his hands rather than Edmonton's. It's also worth noting that were McDavid to even give an inkling that he's open to leaving the Oilers, 80% of the league would engage in a bidding war.
