Former NHL enforcer turned color commentator Todd Fedoruk recently raised eyebrows when he suggested the Philadelphia Flyers could be a destination for Connor McDavid if the Edmonton Oilers struggle this season.
"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. There are rumors that Philadelphia is a place that Connor McDavid wants to go.
McDavid is in the first season of his two-year contract extension. If the Oilers become a marginal playoff club or worse, the 29-year-old superstar could consider a change of scenery, but it's unlikely to be Philadelphia.
All due respect to the Flyers. They exceeded expectations last season, making the playoffs and upsetting the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round before getting swept by the Carolina Hurricanes.
However, if McDavid moves on, it'll be to an established Stanley Cup contender. Hockey's holy grail is the only thing missing on his otherwise impressive NHL resume.
The Flyers might become a contender in a few years, but they're not there yet.
Here are more notable rumors that made the rounds last week.
PENGUINS INTERESTED IN SHANE WRIGHT?
The Penguins were reportedly interested in left winger Jason Robertson before the 27-year-old RFA agreed to a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars.
With Robertson unavailable (for now), the Penguins could shift their focus toward Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken. Earlier this month, it was reported the Kraken were willing to trade the 22-year-old center for the right price.
According to Josh Yohe of The Athletic, the Penguins were intrigued by Wright's potential as a top-six forward. He also noted that former Kraken GM Ron Francis had rejoined the Penguins in a front office role. Francis drafted Wright with the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft.
Yohe felt the Kraken's asking price could be a sticking point. It's believed the Vancouver Canucks were also looking at Wright, but not if the asking price includes a top prospect such as Tom Willander or Zeev Buium.
ST. LOUIS BLUES EYEING ALEXANDER NIKISHIN?
Following the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs, it was reported the Hurricanes were weighing the possibility of trading Alexander Nikishin over re-signing the 24-year-old defenseman.
Nikishin is an RFA who lacks arbitration rights and is ineligible to receive an offer sheet. He had a promising NHL debut with 33 points in 81 games last season. His performance declined during the post-season, but he still has plenty of room for improvement.
It was reported earlier this month that the St. Louis Blues were interested in Nikishin. On July 21, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic claimed they continued to show an interest in the young blueliner, assuming he's available.