Why Would Anyone Believe McDavid Wants to Join the Flyers?

A recent report by a former NHL player for the Philadelphia Flyers suggested that Connor McDavid might be positioning himself to land in Philly. Todd Fedoruk suggested that the Flyers could be a preferred destination for McDavid and that it won’t be long before the Edmonton Oilers captain calls to gauge the Flyers’ level of interest.

Fedoruk said:

“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 Connor McDavid wants to go,”

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Where Fedoruk is getting that from is unclear. McDavid just steered the Oilers toward hiring Mike Babcock, and he’s invested in making a run with the Oilers for two more seasons. Perhaps they’re not successful, but he’s all in.

And, while Fedoruk conveniently leaves out the fact that McDavid reaching out to the Flyers, or his agent doing the same, is tampering, this rumor seems to be based on the same argument everyone who says McDavid is leaving Edmonton makes: that he’s tired of not winning.

That’s what makes the Flyers rumor so fascinating, and frankly, hard to believe.

Why the Flyers?

The closest link McDavid has to the Flyers is that he played CHL hockey in Erie, in northwestern Pennsylvania, roughly 430 miles northwest of Philadelphia. There are no known family links, no old teammates who play there, and no coach with whom he has a history. The Flyers clearly are open to taking big swings (see the Leo Carlsson offer sheet), but they’re hardly contenders for the Stanley Cup. McDavid would be taking a step back if his only desire is to win.

The Flyers got a lot of attention with their moves. If the idea was to send a message that they are open for business and ready to spend, that message was heard loud and clear. So why did a rumor with almost no substance behind it still travel?

Follow the money.

Players have more control over their futures than ever; terms have gotten shorter across the board, and loyalty has stopped being the deciding factor for players operating at McDavid’s level. Carlsson signed the offer sheet with the Flyers because the offer was too good to refuse. He later said he was glad the Anaheim Ducks matched and that he never wanted to leave.

One would assume (as Fedoruk likely has) that the Flyers would happily offer McDavid the NHL’s max on a new contract. If the cap reaches $123 million in 2028-29, McDavid could make $24.6 million per season (nearly twice what he’s making now). It’s easy to believe that it would be enticing.

One Small Problem When It Comes to McDavid

What Fedoruk is ignoring is McDavid’s past history. Elite talents increasingly make decisions based on one variable: where they believe they can actually win. McDavid has already proven that’s the only thing that matters. He’ll go where he can do that, before he’ll go where the money becomes his priority. Honestly, he’ll make good money no matter where he plays. But if it comes to choosing Carolina over Philadelphia, or Colorado over the Flyers, that kind of speculation would make more sense.

The Flyers aren’t a bad team. They aren’t a legitimate threat, however.

And to be clear, there’s no evidence McDavid is looking for an exit right now. Nothing here suggests Philadelphia specifically, or any team specifically. So why are people hearing this rumor and asking if it’s true? The same reason any rumor about McDavid catches on: it’s provocative.

That’s really what this is about. Not Philadelphia. Every unfounded trade rumor about a superstar is really the same rumor in disguise — a referendum on whether his current team is closing the gap or running out of time.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Canadiens, Flyers, Oilers & McDavid’s a Target