Flyers' franchise-changing trade idea gets Connor McDavid from Oilers

The Philadelphia Flyers' playoff run is still ongoing, but there are already some analysts considering their future.

That's because the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid saw their season come to an end on Thursday night in the first round, and now the NHL world is wondering what might be next for McDavid.

He's got two years left on his current contract, which means that the Oilers would have to trade him in the next nine months or so to maximize the return.

There's no guarantee that they look to trade him at all, but if they do, lots of teams would be interested.

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Bleacher Report's Lyle Fitzsimmons thinks the Flyers would be among that group, maybe a bit under the radar but a legitimate potential landing spot.

"While we'd not make them a favorite to land McDavid, there aren't many teams that have the wallet, the media market, and the stockpile of available talent to accommodate a trade to bring in McDavid like Philadelphia does," Fitzsimmons writes.

The tough part for the Flyers is that they'd likely have to trade pieces that were a big part of the team's rise back to the playoffs this season.

"Coach Rick Tocchet got the Flyers into the playoffs for the first time in six years in his first season behind the bench, doing a far better job with young star Matvei Michkov and blending well with Anaheim castoff Trevor Zegras and late-season teenage impact player Porter Martone," Fitzsimmons writes. "At least some of that collection would be heading northwest to repay the Oilers if it happens, but there'd be plenty left to work with, and it'd be fun to see how quickly No. 97 would endear himself to a notoriously gruff fanbase."

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The reality is that if the Flyers could truly land McDavid, they'd have to consider it, no matter the cost.

He remains the best hockey player in the world. There's no one like him. 

Philadelphia might not be the favorite, but it'd be a wild bidding war if McDavid is up for a trade, and that can lead to some fascinating outcomes.

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