It's been confirmed: Edmonton Oilers are in the race for Brandon Saad

However, the Toronto Maple Leafs and some other contending teams are also in the mix and could potentially complicate Edmonton's plans.

The Oilers' connection to Saad starts from GM Stan Bowman who previously acquired him twice during their time with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Edmonton insider Bob Stauffer has indicated that Saad has interest in joining the Oilers, but Toronto is now seen as a serious contender too and Jonas Siegel of The Athletic reports that the Leafs could target Saad by citing his past relationship with head coach Craig Berube from their St. Louis Blues days.

Brandon Saad can bring playoff experience, two Stanley Cups and a reliable two-way game for the team who is willing to pay him.

For Edmonton, he would provide veteran depth but might struggle to secure a consistent top-six role because of their stacked wings featuring Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evander Kane, Viktor Arvidsson and Vasily Podkolzin.

Toronto on their side may offer a more flexible lineup with some potential openings in their top six.

While the Oilers present a stronger case for Cup contention, the Leafs might give Saad a better opportunity to boost his value before next year, but we don't think it's what he wants since he just voided the remainder of his current contract..

With multiple teams he might fit, Saad's decision may come down to role, contract security, and his best path to another Stanley Cup.