NHL analyst Dave Jenkins believes that Connor McDavid will skip out on signing with the Oilers and head to his hometown of Toronto to play for the Maple Leafs. <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl/news/what-kirill-kaprizov-groundbreaking-contract-means-for-connor-mcdavid' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>The NHL has been filled with big contract extensions over the past few weeks</a>, just not one between Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. Though Kirill Kaprizov's record-breaking contract might have some effect on negotiations going forward, McDavid seems willing to allow his case to run its course through 2025-26. A decade into his career now, McDavid's priority is obvious: winning the Stanley Cup. Family could also be a consideration when he ultimately decides where to go next, says NHL analyst Dave Jenkins of NHL Trade Rumors. The potential for that has already fueled <a href='https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/latest-rumor-links-connor-mcdavid-141518025.html' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>speculation of a homecoming to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs.</a> But here's where my sources tell me the story takes a turn. While the hockey world is fixated on the dollars and cents, the real story might be about family. McDavid and his wife, Lauren, have deep roots in the Toronto area. The pull of starting a family and being close to loved ones is a powerful one, and it's a factor that can't be quantified in a salary cap spreadsheet. The Toronto Maple Leafs have the cap space and the geographical advantage. Come July 1, 2026, we could see the best player in the world trade in his orange and blue for the blue and white, Jenkins wrote. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/nhltraderumours/status/1973555126184059094'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> The captain of the Oilers is heading into the last year of the eight-year, $100 million extension that he signed in 2017, and unrestricted free agency may be looming next summer. For the Maple Leafs, things are interesting. General manager Brad Treliving already set the team up for flexibility by parting ways with Mitch Marner, who signed with the Vegas Golden Knights. The exit not only dissolved Toronto's longtime Core Four but also created the possibility of ample salary-cap space. <h3>The Maple Leafs Will Have Over $20 Million in Cap Space for Connor McDavid Next Summer</h3> As things currently sit, the Leafs will have more than $20 million in space next offseason with much of their core already under contract. That cap room, combined with recent team-friendly extensions up and down the roster, has only added to speculation that Toronto is setting itself up for something grander. McDavid's future will remain one of hockey's most closely followed storylines. Even if he chooses to stay in Edmonton or test his luck at free agency, the possibility of a homecoming in Toronto is sufficient to keep fans and front offices across the continent on their toes.