#connor-mcdavid

#connor-mcdavid

Selected first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, Schaefer has been a transformative presence for the Islanders, and he's been their best player by some distance to start the year. He's the favourite to win the Calder Trophy through the opening month of the season, pulling ahead of Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov. And few players make the game look so easy, as Schaefer's world-class skating and ability to enter the rush are propelling the Islanders into must-watch territory.

"I didn't grow up deeply immersed in hockey, even though my brothers loved the sport. It wasn't until I met Connor that I truly began to understand the game. The skill, the strategy, the passion that drives it."

As Kirill Kaprizov enters the final year of his contract, the hockey world has been waiting for news of a contract extension with the Minnesota Wild to drop -- but Kaprizov has reportedly turned down an offer that would have broken monetary records in the NHL. Right now, the highest-paid player in the league is Leon Draisaitl, who earns $14 million annually, whereas the largest contract in history was Alex Ovechkin's 13-year, $124 million deal signed back in 2008.

While speculation continues to swirl around the superstar's long-term future, McDavid has offered little to fuel the fantasy. Speaking recently during Team Canada's Olympic orientation camp, the Oilers captain struck a measured tone when asked about resigning in Edmonton, echoing the patience he expressed during his postseason press conference after a second straight Stanley Cup Final loss to the Florida Panthers.

The prospect of Connor McDavid joining Auston Matthews on the Toronto Maple Leafs is enticing, yet the financial implications are daunting with both players commanding top salaries.

Neither Connor McDavid nor Leon Draisaitl scored in a recent pickup game, surprising fans and demonstrating their casual approach to offseason hockey.

The Stars face pressure after losing Game 3, with their playoff chances dwindling if they can't equalize the series against the Oilers in Game 4.