To this point, the Philadelphia Flyers have shown an odd hesitancy to make any bold moves for NHL roster players during their rebuild. Could it be as simple as holding out for Connor McDavid in 2026?
McDavid, 28, has one year remaining on the eight-year, $100 million ($12.5 million AAV) contract he signed with the Edmonton Oilers on July 5, 2017, which means the five-time Art Ross Trophy winner can hit unrestricted free agency in 2026 if he chooses.
On the other hand, McDavid can extend with the Oilers, losers of two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals at the hands of Sergei Bobrovsky and the Florida Panthers, as early as July 1.
In Thursday's end-of-season press conference, McDavid was non-committal on his future in Edmonton, opting for a generic, middle-of-the-road answer rather than something more optimistic or certain.
“This core has been together for a long time and we’ve been building to this moment," McDavid said. "With that being said, ultimately, I still need to do what’s best for me and my family. But of course there’s unfinished business here.”
Winning appears to be the biggest priority for the NHL's best player, and McDavid won't be giving himself the best chance of doing that by thundering onward with an Oilers team filled out with scraps year after year.
"If I feel that there's a good window to win here over and over again, then signing is no problem," added McDavid.
And "if" is doing a lot of work in that sentence, given how the last two years have played out.
By the time 2026 rolls around, and depending on which players the Flyers decide to keep and trade, Philadelphia could have nearly $50 million in cap space to make a pitch to McDavid and, potentially, other NHL stars to join Matvei Michkov and Co.
Additionally, the contract of Ryan Ellis could always be placed on long-term injured reserve to create an extra $6.25 million in a pinch during the season.
The current CBA permits a player to earn a maximum of 20% of the salary cap, so if the NHL salary cap is $104 million for 2026-27, McDavid could sign a deal worth $20.8 million annually. That's no problem for the Flyers, who will still have Michkov, Jett Luchanko, and whoever the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft is on rookie contracts at that point.
Goaltending, like in Edmonton, would pose a major problem, but it's ultimately up to the Flyers to use draft picks and other assets to solve it.
Realistically, the Flyers could boast a center depth of McDavid, Sean Couturier, James Hagens, and Luchanko just two years from now.
A lot would have to go right for that to happen, to be clear, but the possibility is there.
Furthering the appeal of the Flyers is the presence of wingers such as McDavid's Canada teammate, Travis Konecny, Tyson Foerster, Michkov, Owen Tippett, and even Bobby Brink.
That's much more appealing than Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, and a bunch of dart throws.
Defense is less certain on the Flyers' end, but they could still be better than what the Oilers have with a few breaks. The book is not closed on Jamie Drysdale, and who knows what happens with Cam York?
A trade for Alex Romanov would give the Flyers some serious depth on the left side, and management are believers in prospects like Helge Grans, Oliver Bonk, and Spencer Gill.
Flyers 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Better Than the Canadiens?The Philadelphia Flyers do not have the best early odds of winning the Stanley Cup in 2026, but how their odds rank compared to some other teams around the NHL might come as a shock.
Inexperienced, yes, but they may have more to offer at the NHL level at this point than the likes of John Klingberg, Brett Kulak, Troy Stecher, and even Darnell Nurse.
Evan Bouchard sways the conversation slightly, but for all his offensive exploits, he's average at best defensively and is set to command a massive new contract.
The Panthers have proven that NHL teams don't necessarily need one alpha above the rest to win so long as the group is the right mix of good players.
Even with an all-out pitch to McDavid, the Flyers are still perfectly capable of finding this harmony.
But the big question remains: can the Flyers strike the big trade? And is their big swing ultimately going to be McDavid? Never say never in this league.
