Is this a fair McDavid trade

Probably....some think that theres not a package big enough for a MacDavid or a Matthews, but 4 1sts, with the 1st one being Bedard is maybe worth considering. But Gretzky got traded for less.

Just not sure a moderately successful club like EDM proposes it, or that a true rebuilding club like CHI. It would certainly take some cahones ON BOTH SIDES, because it really would be a leap.

You'd want more guarantee then 3 years of McDavid to pull that. Gretzy got moved in a contract year and signed new deal immediately.

CHI better just keeping Bedard and building around him for a cup. As good as McDavid has been, he's not had enough depth to get a cup, CHI don't have that depth either.

How silly would Davidson look if Bedard ended up being better than McDavid?

There is just no way CHI does anything like this. This would not only screw up the long term outlook of the rebuild, but also leave them with no draft capital to put players around McDavid. Plus, as others have stated, 7 years of cost controlled Bedard is better than 3 years of expensive McDavid.

Gretzky was traded for less? You can't say that, because thankfully we don't know what $40,000,000 cash in an owners pocket would be worth today.