Is Travis Konecny on the Oilers’ wishlist?
Travis Konecny will likely be a man in high demand this summer. As soon as the Flyers dealt Ivan Provorov to Columbus all signs pointed to this being a firesale in the making. It should hardly be a surprise that the 26-year-old is probably the most coveted player still on the roster. You could argue it’s Carter Hart, but there needs to be some more off-ice clarity before his value is determined.
Konecny, a London, Ontario, native, scored 31 goals and 61 points in 60 games for a struggling Flyers squad. It’s especially impressive that he missed 22 games and still put up the first point-per-game season of his career.
Since being drafted No. 24 overall in 2015, he has risen up the Flyers organization from prospect to core player. He’s also entering the final two years of his deal that pays him $5.5 million each year, per Spotrac.
Immediately, it’s not hard to see why a team like the Edmonton Oilers could be interested in him. One of their main deficiencies, especially in the playoffs, is finding consistent offense outside of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Given their financial problems (less than $6 million in cap space), a trade is somewhat feasible with Konecny’s manageable salary. If Ken Holland is willing to part ways with some draft picks and prospects along with matching contracts this could be a huge add for the Oilers.
Match Made In Heaven?
Take a look at the McDavid effect for a guy like Zach Hyman. Formerly a very useful winger for the Leafs, he is now a point-per-game guy thanks to being on the top line and powerplay. Konecny put up a point-per-game with close to no help.
Imagine the fireworks that are possible if you get him north of the border? That’s another point, too. He would probably be very willing to sign an extension in Edmonton. His career fits right in with the Oilers’ timeline — replacing Kailer Yamamoto with Konecny would, in all likelihood, confirm that the Oilers have the best top-six forward group in the NHL.
Travis Konecny is the face of an interesting group of Flyers on the trade market. Once free agents start finding new homes, expect many teams, including the Oilers, to be in a race for his acquisition.
