Former NHLer Predicts One of McDavid, Matthews Ends Up on Western Contender

Whether it’s this offseason or in the next few years, many are bracing for major movement involving some of the NHL’s premier superstars.

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Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews are at the forefront given their simultaneously expiring contracts following the 2027-28 season and the uncertainty surrounding their futures beyond that.

Either player moving on from their respective situations in Edmonton and Toronto is far from guaranteed; however, former NHLer turned analyst Erik Johnson is of the belief that one of them winds up with the Minnesota Wild when all is said and done.

Johnson said:

“I’m gonna have one hot take for you right now: I think one of Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid will be on the Minnesota Wild in the next three years. That’s my hot take. I think they’re going to find a way. They need a center—that’s Minnesota’s clear Achilles’ heel. They need a number one center. I think Bill Guerin finds a way to get a Matthews or McDavid in Minnesota to push them over the edge. I really do. That’s my one hot take for the day, boys,”

The 29-year-old McDavid has two years left on the two-year, $25 million extension he signed with the Oilers in October, while Matthews, 28, also has two years remaining on the four-year, $53 million deal he signed to extend with the Maple Leafs back in 2023.

Wild GM Bill Guerin has already proven he’s more than willing to take a big swing, as we saw with the Quinn Hughes trade, and his end-of-season comments suggest that aggressive approach won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

Combine that with Minnesota’s long-standing need for a true number-one center, and it’s easy to understand why McDavid or Matthews would be such a tremendous fit.

How the Oilers and Maple Leafs fare in 2026-27 will determine a lot when it comes to their futures, though you can be sure Guerin will be lurking in the weeds no matter what happens.

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