Three reasons why today's Edmonton Oilers will never trade the face of their franchise, Connor McDavid.

The day that the Edmonton Oilers drafted Connor McDavid is the day that the franchise's fortunes changed forever. McDavid has game-breaking speed with the puck on his stick. Which is a rare gift that only he possesses.

Related: 4 Oilers Who Cannot Ever Be Traded

While Wayne "The Great One" Gretzky was traded from the Oilers during his career, I don't suspect that McDavid will be. Here are my top three reasons.

Today's Oilers Don't Have The Troubles of Gretzky's Oilers

The Gretzky trade rocked the hockey world when it happened. The full trade was: Gretzky, Marty McSorley, and Mike Krushelnyski going to the Los Angeles Kings for Martin Gelinas, Jimmy Carson, three first round draft picks (years 1989, 1991, 1993) and $15 million. Before 2005 you could have trades include money because there was no salary cap yet. 

Edmonton was not the huge hockey market that it is today. Peter Pocklington, the owner of the Oilers at the time, has gone on record saying that the Oilers were not receiving a sustainable amount of revenue while operating in Edmonton. Pocklington penned an article for the National Post in 2012 where he stated:

"If the Oilers weren't generating enough revenue, then either costs had to be cut or other sources of revenue found. I also knew that in another year, Wayne was going to become one very expensive hockey player and that I would not be able to keep him. Better to get something for him while I still could. Wayne knows this. He knew it then." 

Peter Pocklington, National Post "Peter Pocklington: I didn't sell Gretzky because I needed the money", March 16, 2012.

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In today's NHL there is a salary cap that everyone is compliant with. Edmonton is also one of the biggest hockey markets in the entire league. They would never need financial help in a trade the same way that Pocklington did when he had Gretzky. McDavid could potentially price himself out of Edmonton as he will be worth more than his present $12.5-million cap hit. But if McDavid left money on the table in his first extension with the team it's not out of the question that he could do it again.

Oilers Wouldn't Get Full Value in a Trade

To attempt to put a price tag on the value that McDavid brings to the team and the community is a fruit-less endeavor. Is there any trade in the world that would make sense for the Oilers? In his most recent season he put collected 153 points in 82 games, 64 of those points were goals.

Related: 3 Reasons The Oilers Should Never Trade Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

The biggest problem with the Gretzky trade is that the value of the roster players and draft picks that came back to the Oilers did not even match Gretzky's value. Carson was coming off of a 100 point season and Gelinas was a prospect who hadn't played an NHL game. Gretzky himself had a 149 point season. It would be like the Oilers trading McDavid for Jason Robertson, Logan Stankoven, and three first round picks. Robertson is a great player and Stankoven has yet to play in the NHL. Robertson is elite, but he's not McDavid.

McDavid Will Leave On His Own Terms (If He Ever Does)

If McDavid ever leaves the Oilers it's because he has decided to try to win with another team. No contract extension negotiation or trade will pry him away from the City of Champions. He has that level of influence (and a no movement clause).

If and when McDavid ever decides to leave the Oilers, it will be on his terms. If he decides that he wants to be traded, the general manager at that time will accommodate. McDavid wants to walk away in free agency? Not likely, but if that's what McDavid decides he wants to do then management will (likely) honor his wishes. Gretzky helped negotiate his trade to the Kings, and any trade involving McDavid would have a similar arrangement.

Related: Oilers' Fans Should Thank Draisaitl for McDavid's 64-Goal Season

McDavid is allowed to be frustrated that his team didn't win the Stanley Cup and want to still be with that team. He wants to win with this group, and for the reasons outlined above I believe that he won't be going anywhere until he does.