Maple Leafs factor Connor McDavid in future plans thanks to cap projections!

Earlier this week, it was reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Rory Boylen that GMs across the league are preparing for a “sharp rise” in the league’s salary cap over the next few seasons. The salary cap will be at $82.5 million for 2022-23 and rise to $83.5 for 2023-24. Star players like Maple Leafs star forward Auston Matthews and Lightning captain Steven Stamkos are notable free agents in the 2024 offseason.

It’s then projected to bump up another $4-plus million for each of the 2024-25 and 2025-26 campaigns. The projected salary cap of $92-plus million by the 2026 offseason would represent around a $10-million raise over three seasons.

And the Maple Leafs are reportedly already thinking about using this money to bring Connor McDavid on board. Elliotte Friedman stated in the latest 32 Thoughts podcast on Sportsnet that the “Leafs are going to go all out in pursuing Connor McDavid" and that the Edmonton "Oilers should be wary of the Leafs, especially in the cap situation there currently in.”

The Leafs Nation reminded fans that the Edmonton Oilers’ captain is up for a new contract in 2026. Leafs Nation believes “there is a very, very real chance those two sides will have each other on their radar. They likely already do.”

We already expected that Matthews will command a huge raise and that Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon’s record-setting $12.6 million AAV contract, which he signed last week, won’t remain the NHL’s highest salary for long.

But what about Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares at that point? Because this is all being evaluated by Toronto in case it could sign McDavid on board with the projected salary cap in 2026.

“What if Connor McDavid wants to come home to Toronto, looking for what will likely be a market rate of $15-16 million a year at that point?” - The question asked by Leafs Nation, who put together this very telling graphic:

Leafs Nation isn’t too worried about Tavares, seeing that he will be 36 years and will most likely take a pay cut in negotiations.

As for the Maple Leafs shelling out a combined $30-million to two players in the future, here being Matthews and this crazy idea that McDavid signs in Toronto, the text reads it best: “To put it in perspective, the Oilers themselves almost find themselves staring down the same situation in 2-3 years. Leon Draisaitl and McDavid will almost surely command that much.”

So, are the Maple Leafs giddy about the new cap projections and planning to get McDavid to come home? Can you imagine if this happens???