In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: suggested destinations for Oilers captain Connor McDavid as the offseason silliness continues, and a look at the Red Wings’ cap space.

BLEED OIL BLUE: NHL Network’s E.J. Hradek recently discussed hypothetical destinations for Connor McDavid if he were to leave the Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid, 28, is entering the first season of his two-year contract extension with the Oilers. That has generated speculation about what the superstar center might do if the club fails to return to Stanley Cup contender status after last season’s disappointing performance.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

Hradek said he doesn’t have a close relationship with McDavid. However, speaking with “a couple of different sources,” he said that if McDavid were to leave Edmonton, perhaps the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings were locations that he might be amenable to.

The New York Rangers come up “because the Rangers are gonna have a lot of cap space, and it is New York, after all.” Hradek suggested that seeing the outpouring of love for the New York Knicks after winning the NBA championship could influence someone to join the Rangers.

Hradek ultimately believes that if McDavid leaves, it’ll be to join a club where he can win the Stanley Cup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With all due respect to Hradek and his sources, the Flyers, Red Wings, and Rangers won’t give McDavid the best chances to win hockey’s holy grail.

The Flyers are a promising team, and they definitely need a first-line center. They exceeded expectations last season by reaching the playoffs and advancing to the second round. However, even the most die-hard Flyers fan knows that their team is still several years away from Cup contention.

Meanwhile, in Detroit, the Red Wings have become a soap opera. A decade-long playoff drought prompted team captain Dylan Larkin to request a trade, forcing ownership to relieve franchise icon Steve Yzerman of his duties as general manager and sparking speculation about his eventual replacement. Of the teams Hradek mentioned, the Wings are the furthest from Cup contention.

As for the Rangers, GM Chris Drury has been attempting to retool his roster on the fly over the past two years. While this season’s edition is bound to be better than last season’s, they are no closer to regaining their Cup contention status from two years ago.

I realize I’m noting where these teams are now and that a lot can change by the time McDavid’s contract expires in 2028, assuming he departs as a free agent and doesn’t push for a trade beforehand.

Nevertheless, I don’t see those three clubs improving over that period to become certain Cup contenders, which I believe is what it would take to entice McDavid.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen recently reported that whoever becomes the next general manager of the Red Wings will be swimming in salary-cap space this season.

According to PuckPedia, the Red Wings have a league-leading $19,572,084 of cap space for 2026-27. That will go down once restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson is re-signed. Assuming he gets an average annual value of $9 million, it would still leave the Wings with over $10 million to work with. They could also gain another $8.7 million, depending on what they gain if they trade Dylan Larkin.

Allen noted that the Red Wings could have over $40 million in projected cap space for 2027-28. Next summer’s free-agent pool could be deep. Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild are among the stars who could be available. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Having lots of salary-cap space won’t matter if the top players in next summer’s UFA market aren’t willing to sign with your club. The Red Wings’ current status suggests they could have a difficult time wooing the best free-agent talent.

They could put that cap space to better use in the trade market, provided they target players lacking no-trade protection or those who would be willing to waive their clauses to come to Detroit.