Connor McDavid is back in talks about trades, and there’s a lot of pressure building in Edmonton around Kris Knoblauch’s team.
Georges Laraque mentioned on Monday during BPM Sports that if the Oilers don’t perform well again next season, McDavid might ask the team for a trade.
That comment caught people’s attention. But what came next was even more surprising for Montreal.
Laraque suggested that the Canadiens could be a likely choice if Edmonton ever reaches a point where they consider trading their captain.
“Can you imagine Connor McDavid on the Canadiens? I believe it could happen,” said Georges Laraque.
This idea is really big, but what makes it even more serious is the timing. Edmonton just got eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Ducks.
This means the Oilers have now had two consecutive early playoff exits, after making it to the Stanley Cup Finals two years in a row.
McDavid and Leon Draisaitl showed their anger and disappointment after the loss. When your top two players express that kind of frustration, it sticks with the team all summer long.
Now, Montreal is part of the discussion. McDavid still has two years left on his contract, which costs $12.5 million against the salary cap. This gives Stan Bowman a small chance to steer things in a different direction.
If next season ends like this one, with another early exit, Edmonton will need to consider how much value they can get before they lose their advantage.
That’s where Montreal becomes interesting. The Canadiens are not talking about a long rebuild or some far-off plan anymore.
They finished the season with a record of 48 wins, 24 losses, and 10 overtime losses, making it to the second round against Buffalo. That affects how other teams view their roster.
Nick Suzuki recently scored 101 points, and he’s already proven he can handle the pressure of being a top player in the playoffs.
However, McDavid is on a whole different level. He would instantly elevate the top six players, improve the power play, and change the entire speed of the team overnight.
The important thing to think about is if Kent Hughes would break up the younger players to make a big trade like that.
Montreal has what Edmonton is looking for: young players who are improving, players who will be valuable in the future, and a team that is getting better instead of struggling.
This doesn’t guarantee a trade will happen. It just means that it’s clear how well the two teams could match up, which makes it interesting to watch.
For the Oilers, next season seems to be more important than just earning points. It feels like a chance to prove to Connor McDavid that Edmonton is still the right place for him.
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