Connor McDavid's name is now tied to the Philadelphia Flyers, and it didn't come out of nowhere.
97.5 The Fanatic host Todd Fedoruk dropped the rumor Thursday afternoon, and it spread fast.
"He is going to be a player who will be calling teams," Fedoruk said. "His agent is going to be looking for him to go places."
Fedoruk went further, claiming there are rumors that Philadelphia is a place McDavid actually wants to go.
That's a massive name to hang on a franchise still hunting for its identity under Rick Tocchet.
A rumor like this spreads like a loose puck bouncing off the boards. Everybody reaches for it at once.
McDavid just closed a season most players would sign up for blindfolded. Eighty-two games, 48 goals, 90 assists, 138 points, a plus-17 rating.
The $12.5 million number that complicates everything
He's carrying a $12,500,000 cap hit this year, the fourth-highest among all skaters in the league.
Linemate Leon Draisaitl actually costs more at $14,000,000, which tells you how tight any roster math gets around a McDavid deal.
Edmonton GM Stan Bowman hasn't shown any public sign of shopping his captain. Babcock built this whole roster around him.
The Oilers finished 41-30-11 for 93 points, 14th overall and second in their division. Not a team quietly waving the white flag.
Head-to-head between these two clubs split down the middle this season. Edmonton won 2-1 in overtime in Philadelphia back in November, then Philadelphia answered with a 5-2 win in Edmonton in January.
Is Philadelphia really positioned to chase the best player alive? That's the real question buried under the headline.
Fedoruk's comments read more like wishful thinking from a fan base starved for a true difference-maker than an actual front-office signal. Until Briere or Tocchet says a word publicly, this stays talk radio, not trade radar.
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But stars rarely stay quiet forever. If McDavid's camp really is testing the water the way Fedoruk suggests, Philadelphia just put itself on a very short list.
Should the Flyers actually pursue Connor McDavid if the chance ever comes?
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