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Edmonton Oilers superstar forward and captain Connor McDavid will need a new contract by the time the summer of 2026 rolls around and few things excite fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs more than speculating a reunion with a native son.

There was a notable back and forth on social media that had fans of the Leafs intrigued.

McDavid originally called out Leafs captain Auston Matthews in a lighthearted way:

Matthews responded:

Leafs fans began hoping that the two were plotting on teaming up together.

“Auston, great job recruiting one of the best players in the world to come sign a contract in 2026 in the center of the hockey universe,” reacted @millyleafs.

“Bet he could make it happen if he jumped ship and landed in a @MapleLeafs uniform!” exclaimed @Alberta_300win.

“Do the collab now,” wrote @sassyvbalotelli.

“Okay, now it’s starting to come together. They’ve should’ve posted these an hour apart. Not a whole day,” added @JacobPacheco6.

“McDavid to Toronto confirmed,” speculated @brandonkocuiba.

“Connor is coming home,” added @Wnc096.

McDavid is eligible to sign an extension with the Oilers in the upcoming summer; his star teammate Leon Draisaitl recently agreed to a mammoth extension to remain in Edmonton.

One notable star did come home to play for the Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs secured the services of a native son when John Tavares bolted from the New York Islanders in the summer of 2018, signing a seven-year contract.

As he wrote on social media, it was a “childhood dream” of his to play for the Leafs, complete with a photograph of a youngster sleeping in a bed adorned with Maple Leafs-themed sheets.

The Maple Leafs were linked to Ontario native Steven Stamkos before he re-signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on an eight-year contract in the summer of 2016.

However, multiple Canadian athletes have confirmed over the years that they would rather play in cities where they’d enjoy relative anonymity as opposed to the intense media scrutiny that can come with playing in markets like Toronto and Montreal.

If McDavid were to eventually play for the Leafs, he would have non-stop media scrutiny in the heart of hockey’s most intense market.