Reporter Hinting at a Potential Trade Between the Flyers and Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Eric Hartline – Imagn Images
With early trade winds brewing, NHL insider Anthony Di Marco hints at a potential trade between the Maple Leafs and the Flyers.
Piggybacking on his previous report from earlier in the season, DFO’s Anthony Di Marco believes that the Philadelphia Flyers are inching closer on moving forward Owen Tippett, and that the Toronto Maple Leafs could be a viable destination.
Owen Tippett On the Outs in Philadelphia
Di Marco mentioned a few weeks ago that Tippett was on the outs in Philadelphia, primarily based on fit. Head coach Rick Tocchet had him playing in the bottom-6 with the Flyers were prioritizing wingers like Travis Konecny, Tyson Foerster, and Matvei Michkov.
Fast forward to the present and it seems like those rumours haven’t gone anywhere; in fact they might have intensified. The Flyers feel like they can’t find the right fit internally, but Di Marco believes they could find it in Toronto instead.
Speculatively speaking, Leafs forward William Nylander is the exact type of player that would make Tippett excel. Could he end up on Toronto’s radar given its need for another top-six forward?The Maple Leafs top-6 shuffle has been ongoing for weeks now, to a point where Craig Berube decided to front-load his top line with Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and William Nylander.
Why Tippett Would Fit Like a Glove in Toronto
If Toronto can find a trade package that interests the Flyers, Tippett would be a fantastic fit alongside Nylander and perhaps even John Tavares. His blazing speed, hard shot, and goal-scoring abilities would go through the roof alongside both veterans.
Tippett has secured 3 straight 20 goal seasons, although 2024-25 was a bit of a down year with just 20 goals scored after managing 27 in 2022-23 and 28 in 2023-24. So far, he’s managed 5 goals in 12 games and looks a lot better in recent weeks.
The Peterborough native is in the second year of his 8-year contract that holds a cap hit of $6.2 million. His modified NTC doesn’t kick in until next season, which gives the Flyers a little bit of breathing room if they were desperate to make a move soon.
Philadelphia is looking for change and GM Daniel Briere does have a working relationship with GM Brad Treliving, when the two of them orchestrated a deal involving Scott Laughton. Look for them to engage once more with Tippett being the prize this time.
Previously on Maple Leafs Daily
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Reporter Hinting at a Potential Trade Between the Flyers and Maple Leafs
Would Owen Tippett be a considerable improvement to the Leafs current top-6?
