Flyers analyst spreads rumour McDavid is interested in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Flyers have been the newsmakers of NHL free agency, and now a former player has insinuated that Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is interested in going there.

Todd Fedoruk carved out a career for around a decade in the 2000s as an enforcer. Now he is a Flyers colour analyst for 97.5 The Fanatic, who has found a new way to ruffle feathers this off-season, suggesting that if the Oilers get off to a poor start, McDavid will be looking to leave.

“He is going to be a player who will be calling teams,” he said. “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.”

The McDavid rumours are nothing new. He is about to start a two-year contract at $12.5 million, meaning next summer he can re-sign for another extension if he wishes.

Before the Olympics, McDavid wrote a piece in the Players’ Tribune that detailed his commitment to Edmonton and wanting to win the Stanley Cup specifically in the city.

“I’m 11 years into my career. Of course, I think about my legacy,” said McDavid. “I want to be remembered as a winner. But not just anywhere. Here. To be in this city during a Cup run, to feel that buzz … it just wouldn’t be the same somewhere else.”

The Flyers are desperately looking for a No. 1 centre after making 21-year-old Leo Carlsson the highest-paid player in the league with an $18-million average annual value contract. The offer sheet was matched, however, by the Anaheim Ducks.

With that swing and miss, they still have all four of those first-round picks in their back pocket and roughly $13 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia. They just signed a pair of former Ducks to four-year contracts: Trevor Zegras to a $9.125-million deal, as well as Jamie Drysdale to a $6.5-million contract.