With the NHL season winding down and a jump in the salary cap, teams are positioning for what could be a busy summer — and examples such as the Vegas Golden Knights’ third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in nine years have underscored that bold moves can pay off, according to the report.
Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid find themselves in parallel situations. Both are captains in high-pressure markets and are signed through the 2027-28 season. Both are represented by the same agent, whose message has been why make a decision before you have to, according to the report. Neither team has named a coach for next season, a detail the report calls a key data point.
Expectations differ between the two clubs. The report says no immediate updates are likely from McDavid after a disappointing Oilers season; he signed a short-term, team-friendly deal last summer and Edmonton understands it is on the clock with its generational star. In Toronto, management change has introduced more uncertainty around Matthews, but there remains a strong belief he intends to stay. A meeting between Matthews, new general manager John Chayka and president of hockey operations Mats Sundin is expected, according to the report. Matthews is recovering from knee surgery after the hit by Radko Gudas and has been limited in travel while rehabbing; Sundin is relocating his family from Europe and the club is immersed in scouting meetings, but lines of communication have reportedly remained open.
The Maple Leafs have also kept their No. 1 draft pick plans guarded. Most scouts and executives contacted for the report view Gavin McKenna as the likeliest selection because of his high ceiling and his Penn State season, where evaluators saw a player who can handle and feed off noise. Ivar Stenberg has grown in profile and prompted more debate internally, while Caleb Malhotra has climbed several draft boards. Still, the consensus described in the report is that the draft largely runs through McKenna: “You better be absolutely sure if you’re going to pass on McKenna,” one executive said.
Alex Ovechkin returned to Moscow last week and, according to the report, appears to be weighing retirement from the NHL against a possible one-year return to Washington. Ovechkin’s mother, Tatiana, has been in Russia as he considers his next step, according to the report.
