WCF: Dallas Stars [CEN1] vs Edmonton Oilers [PAC2] - Edmonton wins 4-2

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

What percentage would you put on McDiver leaving? at least from what you're hearing

95%.

Here are the things that would have to happen imo for him to stay.

The first is easy and in Edmonton's favour, they can't win a Cup. I think there is a part of McDavid that wants to win a Cup for the Oilers fans before he bolts. I don't think them failing in that will stop him though.

Second, he would have to split with his fiance because everything I have heard is she does not like Edmonton and feels they are wasting her man's talents and it is not a desirable place to be.

Third, he would have to believe that no big market especially Toronto would not be in on him and willing to pay him big money.
McDavid gew up obsessed with the Leafs and he still is. The draw to go back home and not only play for Toronto but be the hero that ends the Stanley Cup drought there is the dream. He doesn't have to worry about that, any team will make moves to accommodate him.

Fourth, they offer him the most ridiculous contract in the history of sports. I don't think that will work though, he is smart enough to know that amount of cap hit would cripple the team badly.

Here is the bottom line, he doesn't want to be in Edmonton long term and his fiance doesn't either. I think he will feel he gave Edmonton plenty of years of his best hockey to try and win and he has fulfilled his end of the bargain as best he could. He will have earned the right to be a free agent and play where he wants to play, in the end it's his life and career. This is a guy who grew up wanting to play for Toronto, it's where his heart is. The fact he can become a local legend in his own home city if he can end their Cup draught just seals the deal. Toronto is also the centre of the hockey universe to boot, I don't see any way possible he doesn't end up there.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I thought McDavid and Draisaitl said that this season was cup or bust for them.

They did. I think that was foretelling.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Are we going to see a pic of McDavid on his Leafs jammie-jams?

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

95%.

Here are the things that would have to happen imo for him to stay.

The first is easy and in Edmonton's favour, they can't win a Cup. I think there is a part of McDavid that wants to win a Cup for the Oilers fans before he bolts. I don't think them failing in that will stop him though.

Second, he would have to split with his fiance because everything I have heard is she does not like Edmonton and feels they are wasting her man's talents and it is not a desirable place to be.

Third, he would have to believe that no big market especially Toronto would not be in on him and willing to pay him big money.
McDavid gew up obsessed with the Leafs and he still is. The draw to go back home and not only play for Toronto but be the hero that ends the Stanley Cup drought there is the dream. He doesn't have to worry about that, any team will make moves to accommodate him.

Fourth, they offer him the most ridiculous contract in the history of sports. I don't think that will work though, he is smart enough to know that amount of cap hit would cripple the team badly.

Here is the bottom line, he doesn't want to be in Edmonton long term and his fiance doesn't either. I think he will feel he gave Edmonton plenty of years of his best hockey to try and win and he has fulfilled his end of the bargain as best he could. He will have earned the right to be a free agent and play where he wants to play, in the end it's his life and career. This is a guy who grew up wanting to play for Toronto, it's where his heart is. The fact he can become a local legend in his own home city if he can end their Cup draught just seals the deal. Toronto is also the centre of the hockey universe to boot, I don't see any way possible he doesn't end up there.

The amount of cap space that the Leafs will have when Connor is a UFA has to be troubling Oiler fans. Even if they resign Marner and he doesn't have a NMC, it will give Treliving flexibility.

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

McDavid stays and Draisaitl leaves - and that's probably the best thing for that team in the long run. You can probably pay someone a lot less than Draisaitl will command to stand in one spot on the power play, wait for a puck to bounce there, and let everyone else do the work.

I think there is a decent argument to suggest that Draisaitl is more valuable of the two players. It is harder to manage Draisaitl than McDavid, and also his game is not centered on speed which serves for better longevity. Of the two players I think Draisaitl is the one you keep.

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by FlamesAreOne

Oh man, paying Nurse $9.25M for another 6 years and Campbell another $5M for another 2-3, on top of Leon resetting the market only for McDavid to do the same the following year.

How could they possible field a roster?

Don't forget about Bouchard being up the same time as Draisaitl

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

He probably will get "highest paid player in history" money.

I will laugh at the team that gives him that.

I don't like the guy but you can't argue he's an elite player that brings it in the playoffs. He's going to be well worth the money for the team that signs him for at least half the contract or more.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

Don't forget about Bouchard being up the same time as Draisaitl

The best thing about all the hype around Bouchard is that it's driven up his contract to a point it's going to be hard for him to live up to especially if/when Draisaitl and McDavid leave. He does some good things offensively but he's still not a complete defenseman.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The best thing about all the hype around Bouchard is that it's driven up his contract to a point it's going to be hard for him to live up to especially if/when Draisaitl and McDavid leave. He does some good things offensively but he's still not a complete defenseman.

If in 2 years he has no McDavid, Draisaitl or Ekholm, his new contract will be worse than Nurse.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Locke

I know! I was thinking the same thing.

"Uh, dude, thats your man. You've gotta...ya know...do something?"

Tie up his stick? Get your body across him? Blow in his ear? Something. Anything!

This isnt Sunday afternoon Family Skate day, just skating beside him isnt going to accomplish anything...thats YOUR MAN! You're a goddamned centerman! Do SOMETHING!

Other than shake your head while staring at the Jumbotron watching your incompetence on the Big Screen while shaking your head and glaring at Skinner.

Although you can keep doing that too because I find it endlessly entertaining.

When McDavid and Draisaitl stare at the heavens with the "My God, these guys suck" looks ohhh...its delicious!

Because, while 'these guys' do indeed suck...you're also hanging them out to dry.

It is thoroughly enjoyable.

The gift that keeps on giving

[Flames2007FIRE IT UP]

Nm

[memphusk]

Yeah all this Hype for Bouchard is fantastic right now. Pay him all the dollars.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Yeah all this Hype for Bouchard is fantastic right now. Pay him all the dollars.

Nurse II

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

95%.

Here are the things that would have to happen imo for him to stay.

The first is easy and in Edmonton's favour, they can't win a Cup. I think there is a part of McDavid that wants to win a Cup for the Oilers fans before he bolts. I don't think them failing in that will stop him though.

Second.........

HNIC in the next couple of years could be pretty good watching Mcdavids Leafs at Draisaitls Rangers in the early game, then watching the Flames destroy the Kane/Perry led Oilers in the late game

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Yeah all this Hype for Bouchard is fantastic right now. Pay him all the dollars.

Someone on the panle (Bieksa?) compared him to Coffey because Bouchard right now has a higher PPG than Coffey. Which is nowhere near true. Unless he meant POs which is dumb because Coffey played until he was 39 and no one does that without having a few lean years at the end.

OTOH Fe## Coffey.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Yeah all this Hype for Bouchard is fantastic right now. Pay him all the dollars.

When Nurse getting paid $9.25M Bouchard worth at least that and probably $2M more so, $11.25M?

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

When Nurse getting paid $9.25M Bouchard worth at least that and probably $2M more so, $11.25M?

Hope so. I don't think Leon is as good as his numbers either.

McDavid, Leon and Bouchard could get over $40 mil if they stayed. Only Bouchard is young, but he's probably the most overrated of the trio.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Yeah all this Hype for Bouchard is fantastic right now. Pay him all the dollars.

I always find this odd. You know who can shoot the puck hard in the NHL?

Everyone.

Hitting the puck hard and fast isnt the point. Its being able to see and get it through traffic.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Hope so. I don't think Leon is as good as his numbers either.

McDavid, Leon and Bouchard could get over $40 mil if they stayed. Only Bouchard is young, but he's probably the most overrated of the trio.

I totally agree, but overrating is Edmonton's specialty.

[Monahammer]

This rough insistence about knowing a player's intentions about signing in a location 2+ years before they have likely made any firm decisions about it pretty silly. Take entertainment in what you want but don't make any firm bets on it. Frankly my own personal odds on him leaving the oilers have decreased enormously just because of this conversation.