Over the last couple of days, there has been a rumor making the rounds on social media. According to the chatter, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid could be looking to join the Philadelphia Flyers.
That’s a bit of a new one.
The whole conversation started when former Flyers player Todd Fedoruk dropped a comment in which he claimed that the Flyers were in McDavid’s sights. As such, the three-time Hart Trophy winner would be looking to waive his no-trade clause to come to Philly.
The Flyers are in the market for a true star player, and Todd Fedoruk thinks Connor McDavid could be on the table.
— 97.5 The Fanatic (@975TheFanatic) July 16, 2026
"He is going to be a player who will be calling teams. His agent is going to be looking for him to go places. There are rumors that Philadelphia is a place that… pic.twitter.com/JamcLFWd7F
Let’s get real for a minute. Would that rumor have any legs? Sure, Fedoruk is entitled to his opinion. He can express whatever he sees could be happening. But there’s a huge difference between offering one’s point of view and actually seeing such a situation come to fruition.
While there wouldn’t be any tangible reason why McDavid wouldn’t want to come to Philadelphia, there are multiple issues potentially getting in the way of this deal becoming a reality.
First, there’s the most evident one. McDavid is just starting a two-year contract in Edmonton. And it comes with a full no-trade clause. So, at some point, McDavid would have to be so desperate to leave Oil Country that the organization would have no choice but to trade him.
Second, even if McDavid pointed squarely at Philadelphia, the Flyers would have to come up with an offer to make the deal happen. Yes, Philly does have pieces that could make the deal work. But what would it take to make the McDavid trade a reality? That’s a major question to answer.
Third, the Flyers have the cap space to take on McDavid’s $12.5 million cap hit this season and next. But do the Flyers have the wherewithal to re-sign him thereafter?
Despite those questions, there is one scenario in which McDavid could join the Flyers.
Flyers may just have to wait until 2028
There is one situation that could lead to a McDavid-Flyers union. That would be via free agency. The Oilers captain’s deal is up in the summer of 2028. At that point, he would be free to sign wherever he likes.
And if he does hit the open market, the Flyers could have enough room to sign him to pretty much whatever deal he wants.
Theoretically, that sounds all well and fine. But would the Oilers even let McDavid hit the market? If Edmonton were certain that McDavid would not re-up, would the organization just let him walk away?
Fat chance. Edmonton would try to move him wherever they could and try to recoup something. It would be a replay of what we saw this past season with Quinn Hughes. And surely, someone out there would be willing to pony up for McDavid.
That someone could be the Flyers. But it seems that the easiest way of making this idea a reality is by signing McDavid to a free-agent deal.
Ultimately, the chances of McDavid heading to Philly via trade seem slim. Unless McDavid purposely demanded a trade to Philly, the likeliest outcome would be seeing the 28-year-old sign as a free agent at some point down the line.
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