The Edmonton Oilers are essentially in "win now" mode considering that star captain Connor McDavid is entering the first of the two-year extension that he agreed to in October of last season.
McDavid, regarded as the NHL's top player and who has now lost twice in the Stanley Cup Final, has essentially declared that the Oilers have only that time that he remains under contract to win hockey's ultimate prize, or he could consider taking his talents elsewhere.
Meanwhile, as part of his offseason training along with teammate Leon Draisaitl, McDavid has hit the ice with Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev, who missed a large chunk of last season because of various injuries.
According to Insider Dave Feschuk of The Toronto Star, McDavid has hit the ice this offseason with both Chris and Brandon Tanev, the latter of whom now plays for the Utah Mammoth.
"Tanev has been working out all summer with longtime trainer Gary Roberts and more recently skating with a group of NHLers that includes Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Tanev's younger brother, Brandon," Feschuk reported via The Toronto Star. "He said he is hopeful he'll be ready for a Leafs training camp that begins in less than two weeks."
The Maple Leafs won't have to wait long into the upcoming 2026-27 NHL season schedule to play McDavid and the Oilers, as they travel to Alberta for a matchup at Rogers Place on Oct. 24. McDavid and the Oilers will then visit Toronto on November 14 at Scotiabank Arena.
During a 2021 preseason game, when Tanev was still with the divisional-rival Calgary Flames, McDavid was tripped by the defenseman while cutting toward the net. The play sent the Oilers captain crashing into the net, and he believed Tanev's actions created a dangerous situation.
"I don't want to go flying in there. The goalie doesn't want me flying in there. And the guy that's left safe is the defenceman that's sloppy with his stick," McDavid said of the incident via The Calgary Sun . "I think you'd like to see that called a little bit more. It protects the guy driving to the net — obviously, we want to increase offence (in the NHL). The guy has to have the right to defend the net, but when the stick gets caught up into the feet and sends the guy flying, you'd like to see that called a little more.It wouldn't be long before Tanev himself responded, saying that it wasn't his intention to try and hurt anyone and that he was just trying to play the puck.
"I'm trying to get the puck and it's obviously unfortunate he gets tripped up and goes into the goalie," Tanev said. "But anyone that's watched me play knows I'm a pretty honest player. I mean, I take maybe three or four minors a year. I don't think I'm going out there trying to hurt people."
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