The Edmonton Oilers once again saw their season end in the Stanley Cup Final without a championship after they lost to the Florida Panthers in six games. On Thursday, Connor McDavid met with the media and made some interesting comments that the Los Angeles Kings and the rest of the league should take note of.
McDavid was asked if he feels like there is unfinished business and said: "Absolutely. This core has been together for a long time and building to this moment." However, for the Kings, the end of the answer to the question is what is noteworthy when he said, "With that being said, ultimately I still need to do what's best for me and my family, and that is who I have to take care of first."
Could the Los Angeles Kings trade for Connor McDavid?
This is probably the first question that comes to mind, and the short answer is highly unlikely. If the Oilers were to trade him this summer, they would probably want to send him somewhere outside of the Pacific Division and not to a rival with whom they have been competing on a regular basis in the standings.
It isn't completely out of the question, though, as the Oilers and Kings have pulled off what was arguably the most consequential trade in NHL history when the Oilers sent Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles.
Even if the Kings were not to trade for McDavid, this is a situation that needs to be monitored closely as it could have significant impacts on the season for Edmonton. McDavid is entering the final year of his contract and the Oilers probably want to sign him to a long-term deal.
However, if a new deal isn't agreed to, this will be a storyline all season for the Oilers. They certainly don't want to let McDavid leave in free agency next season with nothing in return, so if they struggle to begin the season, the rumblings about a trade would only grow. If he is traded again, it likely would be outside the Pacific Division (hopefully the Western Conference), and this would be a win for the Kings.
The offseason has just started for every NHL team and this will undoubtedly be one of the most discussed topics across the league.