New Ad Clears Up Odd Messages Between Matthews and McDavid

A few days ago, Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid went back and forth with cryptic messages on social media. Matthews posted a message on his social media account saying, “@cmcdavid97 bet you can’t hit a billboard from 50 feet.” McDavid’s was,”@AM34 crossbar and in, let’s see it.”

.@cmcdavid97 bet you can’t hit a billboard from 50 feet

— Auston Matthews (@AM34) January 3, 2025

It wasn’t clear what the messages meant, but it was obvious the two were cooking up something. Things became a lot clearer on Tuesday when a new McDonald’s commercial featuring both NHL stars dropped.

McDonald’s new ad, ‘The Showdown,’ features McDavid and Matthews in a playful shooting contest for a Big Mac. It’s a callback to the old Wayne Gretzky vs. Mats Sundin commercial, which was actually the NHL’s version of the classic Michael Jordan and Larry Bird McDonald’s shoot-off from 1993.

---

In this updated version, the two NHL stars take increasingly absurd shots, including from the stands and outside the arena. At one point, Matthews shoots a puck through McDavid’s tooth on a billboard. They transform into video game characters reminiscent of NHL 99 before returning to reality and going to McDonald’s together.

Matthews vs. McDavid: McDonald’s to NHL Comparison

When a commercial like this drops, showcasing the NHL’s arguably two biggest names, it’s hard not to make on-ice comparisons. Some fans and writers in Toronto are teasing that this might be a hint McDavid and Matthews will one day join forces in Toronto, but the reality is, we’ll be comparing these two for years to come on opposing teams.

If Matthews can return and stay healthy, that could be as soon as the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament.

It looked like a pretty even matchup off the ice and when competing for a Big Mac. On the ice, it’s been a different story this season. McDavid is well out ahead of Matthews. McDavid is 6th in the NHL in scoring, while Matthews is barely inside the top 100 at No. 98. Much of that can be attributed to injuries for Matthews as he’s played in 10 fewer games.

The ad shows the acting chops of both McDavid and Matthews, who have done their fair share of sponsorship deals since joining the NHL.

Next: Goalie Market Heating Up Ahead of the Deadline