Maple Leafs chirp back after Connor McDavid's complaint about Toronto

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Liam McCormick
February 1, 2025 (4:34 PM)

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Connor McDavid tossed a light chirp about the NHL's treatment of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and now Leafs forward Max Pacioretty joked back.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are visiting the Edmonton Oilers and the NHL has scheduled the game for 5:00MT, but prime time in Toronto.

Max Pacioretty responds to McDavid chirping NHL treatment of Maple Leafs

In his pre game media comments yesterday, McDavid noted that it was strange the NHL scheduled the game on Toronto's time instead of Edmonton's - a long held complaint of the Oilers getting the short end of the schedule.

Guys are excited. You get the 5:00 start time. It's always nice, they come into our building and we gotta change *our* schedule around. It is what it is. It's exciting. Always fun to play the Leafs.

- Connor McDavid

McDavid's comments weren't fully serious, but it does raise an increasing inconsistency from the NHL. Playing it off lightly, McDavid said he actually liked the 5:00 start better than the 8:00 starts.

The sting of an early start is softened by it being a weekend game, but it still shows blatant favouritism and priority to the Leafs and their TV audience, instead of the actual fans attending and watching the game.

Max Pacioretty and Matthew Knies respond to Connor McDavid comments on scheduling

When confronted with McDavid's comments and playing a central Canadian matchup on their own time zone, some Leafs forwards chuckled and said they have the advantage. Max Pacioretty and Matthew Knies both joked about the scheduling benefit.

Although the Leafs and Oilers don't play each other much, there's a tangible rivalry as two of the best teams in Canada with some of the biggest superstars in the NHL. In their days in the Canadian division, these two teams did develop some real rivalry.

Last time the Oilers met the Leafs, forward Ryan Reaves threw a brutal hit against Darnell Nurse and was suspended. Reaves is expected to be in the lineup tonight, potentially causing some fireworks if the Oilers look for retribution - but they're not that kind of team.

Still, tonight's matchup should be a fantastic game between two top teams. Hopefully, the Oilers come away with a win, and stiff it to the NHL showing favouritism to the Leafs and Toronto fans.

POLL
3 HOURS AGO \| 16 ANSWERS Maple Leafs chirp back after Connor McDavid's complaint about Toronto Do you think the NHL is showing favouritism with this scheduling?
▢ Yes, it's ridiculous
▢ No, it's nothing

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