#mcstrome

Do I stay longer 🤔

fics that may have fallen under your radar if you sort by hits/kudos and that we think should be more popular

take some time - yourblues (T, 8k)

Bless up yourblues’ second mcstrome everyone bow down. McStrome reunion fic taking place in 2025 that has a feeling of returning to the past. If nostalgia is the pain of returning home, this fic has it, but like a home it also takes place in a bubble where while they’re existing together, everything will be okay. 

Anni mirabili - leavethebes (E, 8k)

Dylan is a catcher, Connor is a pitcher who loves Sandi Koufax. It’s atmospheric and desolate in the way that minor league baseball is. A sense of desperation where they only have each other, reframes their break-up in a minor league baseball context that makes you feel how Connor’s obsessions will always be the most important thing to him. Sense of barely held together tension and the feeling of old school McStrome where Dylan is bouncing around the OHL/minors. Devastating. The author has also written Oasis fic and for those who know ball, that’s elite. 

there you were, there you are - hummingbirdcakes / @hummingbirdcake (M, 5k)

I’ve read this four times because the filters I use keep bringing this to me. About a baby showing up on Dylan’s doorstep, which he realizes is his and an estranged Connor McDavid’s child, catalyzing their reunion. A sort of McStrome take on Sidgeno where the plot really moves the relationship along. Also they name their kid something really cute and it’s worth the read just for that. 

the years of loves past - notthequiettype / @notthequiettype (NR, 2k)

Short oneshot where Connor gets an invite to Dylan’s wedding. It’s like war flashbacks of a vet that has moved on with his life but obviously never will, except it’s your teenage situationship and your idyllic life as a civilian is dating Leon Draisaitl and the trigger is an invite. The conflict all over this fic is delicious. 

Landlessness - hannah_baker (T, 65k)

Specific trope that is also a faveeee

never can say goodbye by Ajluv is a magical realism AU where Connor kinda puts himself in a magic seizure where he dreams of an alternate universe where hockey doesn’t exist, and he needs to get saved by none other than ex best friend Dylan Strome. It involves a lot of other players in key roles and is quite plot-heavy so if you're into the hockey extended universe there's a lot of bonus content. It follows that estrangement recoupling to a tee that makes it a real modern classic mcstrome.

Another McStrome that’s a bit more similar to The Next Next one is To Build a Legacy by @notlayingroses which I just started/am currently reading. Basically an AU where Connor gets traded mid season to the Caps in 2028 and all that entails. Written from a Caps fan pov, which is interesting because it explores a cast of players I’m not too familiar with. Definitely captures the flopping desperately on dry land aspect of a fish out of water story. Feels unique because it's from a very well written Connor POV, which in the McStrome breakup is interesting and hard to describe compared to Dylan's and I feel that I've definitely read it less. Fair warning, it’s incomplete, but the author recently revealed themselves as resurrected from the dead and updated so I'm really excited to catch up/follow it!

I will take any opportunity to push the Jeffmike agenda so if you like this trope and wanna read another ship, then we do it again has the break up make up premise but with fading/reappearing soulmate marks. Love the avoidancy and sense of things left unsaid, even when they are literally having conversations about their predicament. Wants and Needs is a longer Jeffmike which is about a post-divorce Jeff going to Mike’s home after not speaking for many, many years. Very slowburn and realistic in the sense that even when all the cards are on the table romantically they still have issues to overcome. I love this one so much. 

Something Old is a Brioux classic about Danny’s son getting married and asking Claude to go as his father’s date for fun plot reasons. It’s snappy and plottish and thematic alongside its angst, making it sort of perfect and you understand why it’s literally the most popular Brioux fic. 

Open ao3 collection, directions, and rules found here!

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first meeting, sleepovers, t4t

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all the big dreams that we won't pursue

Connor McDavid/Dylan Strome | T | 994 words

They do it often enough that the rest of the guys have stopped saying anything.

one of my fave au types but if you have literally any recs in this vein for any pairing lmk. (not pwp just trust)

Baby, let me plead my case by cryproudly99 / @cryproudly99 (E, 23k)

Basically, Will is Jerma and Macklin is an OnlyFans star. Slight socmed au as you get interjections from their respective fans speculating on the nature of their relationship. Has a really fun chronically online rich Californian 20 year olds atmosphere (so really not that different from reality). Lots of fun stuff in the wider universe of the world also like background KK Harvey x Laila Edwards and Edmonton Polycule (transplanted to LA) mentions. Real RPF puck knower. 

Two Minutes for Hooking by Helenish / @helenish (E, 5k)

Connor is the most awkward hooker ever and picks up Leon in the Rogers Place parking garage. He’s surly and tragic and you ask yourself who, other than Leon Draisaitl, is hiring him? Thank god he’s good at hockey irl. Frustrating idiots dynamic. Fabulous ending that makes for like the best reread experience ever. 

How the Future Knew by canary (E, 63k)

Nolan Patrick makes an OnlyFans and Travis finds him there. It’s sort of hilarious because contrasting Mack in the fic above, Nolan does the most half-assed job of posting, remembering that he has an OnlyFans, earns just enough for beer money, and then just sorts of leaves (canon compliant lmfao). Has the extremely self-aware line of gold “But then Travis was a super-rich professional athlete with abs and an ass and a like, not unacceptable face,” which is honestly a universally applicable hrpf line. There’s a touching “I don’t know what I’m doing with my twenties vibes but it all turns out okay” vibe that is both tense and cozy that reminds me of Landlessness also. 

Money from the Government by vamm_goda (E, 13k)

Danny is an extremely embarrassed hockey player hiring jaded-Philly hooker (and washed up juniors player) Claude. Danny’s #notlikeotherguys and pretty womans Claude despite himself and his trust issues. Honestly really cute to see them working through their mutual suspicions and self-esteem issues and Danny’s divorce. I love AUs where they didn’t make it in the NHL and the resulting angst, rather than the angst coming from hockey itself. This is from like 2011 and there’s a charming lo-fi-ness about the sex work as well, like no one here is on an app this is a sketchy street corner. 

All In by Marmolita / @marmolita (E, 29k)