Connor McDavid signed a two-year extension with Edmonton before this season, giving the Oilers a timeline to win the Stanley Cup or prove they're in a position to do so soon.
However, Edmonton's first-round exit against the Anaheim Ducks is a step backward after consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final. How McDavid feels about the team's direction and whether he would consider a change as early as this summer are key questions arising from the loss.
Although McDavid's unlikely to pull the plug on his time with the Oilers before the extension even kicks in, would anyone blame him for becoming disillusioned after this postseason?
General manager Stan Bowman doesn't inspire much confidence, especially after bungling the goaltending situation and committing long term to Trent Frederic, who Edmonton scratched for two must-win playoff games.
If McDavid wants out this summer - and that's a big if - here are five landing spots that could realistically pursue the best player in the sport.
McDavid and Macklin Celebrini were an unbelievable duo to watch at the Olympics. How about seeing it every night?
With a plethora of young talent and tens of millions in cap space, the Sharks are one of a handful of teams that legitimately have the assets to make a decent trade offer for McDavid.
Celebrini's breakout season has also elevated the Sharks into a new tier. San Jose is a clear Cup contender in the future, and McDavid could find the organization's long runway alluring.
The Mammoth are fighting to earn the contender label amid a tight first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Utah boasts a young roster, a ton of assets, and ample cap space. Owner Ryan Smith also understands the NBA landscape, where star players are traded much more commonly than in the NHL.
The desire to make a splash, combined with the assets on hand, would make the Mammoth one of the most fascinating teams in a potential McDavid pursuit.
GM Kent Hughes has done an exceptional job rebuilding the Canadiens, turning the franchise into a burgeoning Cup contender while maintaining draft capital and prospects.
Montreal would have no issue making a competitive offer, as the club has a young roster, a strong prospect pool, and the draft picks to put together several enticing options.
The Canadiens' salary cap is a slight hurdle, but you can always find a way to make the dollars work when talking about a player like McDavid.
McDavid played for Lightning head coach Jon Cooper at the 4 Nations Face-Off and Olympics, and he praised Tampa Bay as "perfectly coached" in March after a loss to the Lightning.
Tampa Bay could offer the perfect combination of a contender and a desirable destination to live.
The Lightning are currently one loss away from a fourth straight first-round exit, and another year without a playoff series win could see GM Julien BriseBois explore major moves.
Tampa Bay's issue is a lack of assets. The team doesn't have high-end prospects, young players on the roster, or draft picks, and it would likely need Brayden Point to waive his no-trade clause to make a major move. However, the Lightning are ruthless, and another playoff exit could increase the likelihood that they pursue McDavid.
OK, this is stretching the definition of realistic. The Leafs are coming off a disastrous campaign, and it's not like Toronto has a ton to trade.
The Maple Leafs are, of course, McDavid's hometown team. Every time his future in Edmonton even slightly comes into question, he gets linked to Toronto.
Whether McDavid would even want to come home at this stage of his career is unknown, especially given his desire to win and the Leafs' struggles this season. Still, it's a destination worth noting when considering what could happen if McDavid wants to leave Edmonton.
The Maple Leafs become a much more intriguing team if they win the draft lottery next week. The first overall pick? Now that would get the ball rolling in talks.
