Elliotte Friedman Links Maple Leafs to Potential Filip Forsberg Trade
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have a chance to add Filip Forsberg to their top six according to Elliotte Friedman as trade rumors start to heat up early in the season.
While the 2025-26 NHL season is in its infancy, it won't be long until the speculation and rumors about potential signings, trades, and contract extensions start to dominate the headlines once again.
We already got Connor McDavid's contract to kick us off, and there are sure to be more moves in the coming weeks and months; especially with the 2026 Winter Olympics in February making things even more interesting.
Elliotte Friedman Early-Season Trade Rumor Involving Filip Forsberg to the Maple Leafs
So could the Maple Leafs get the party started and pull off a blockbuster deal?
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman believes so, and decided to add some potential fuel to an early-season rumor involving the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators.
On a recent episode of 32 Thoughts, Friedman explained that he heard rumblings that the Nashville Predators were contemplating a move involving star forward Filip Forsberg, and the Maple Leafs are front and center of the speculation:
One name to keep an eye on is Filip Forsberg. I'm hearing Nashville might look to move him. Now, I'm not saying this, but I am wondering if that's something that Treliving and the Leafs will be looking into it.
Friedman's report did admit that it wasn't set in stone, but there is a very good possibility that Toronto decides to go for broke this season, and try to pull of a blockbuster to acquire Forsberg.
Why Filip Forsberg Would Be a Game-Changer for Toronto's Top Six
Forsberg, 31, has been a stud ever since coming into the league at 11th overall in 2012.
In 780 games he's put up 681 points (318 goals, 363 assists), 1,133 hits, and a career plus-15 rating.
A two-time 40-goal scorer, Forsberg would no doubt add that superstar dynamic to the Toronto Maple Leafs that they lost with Mitch Marner's departure.
But you're not only adding someone who can replace the offensive portion of what Marner brought, but all the defensive perks that come with it too.
He loves to throw hits, so that's a boost over Marner, and he's been a top-10 Selke finalist before. He's consistent, he's smart, and has that Craig Berube edge we've seen instilled in the lineup.
But he also gives you solid playoff production with 59 points in 81 postseason contests, (31 goals, 28 assists) so any concern about Toronto's playoff production could be a thing of the past.
The one issue is that Forsberg costs a lot of money, and giving up the proper assets to bring him in is going to require moving someone like a Ben Danford or Easton Cowan perhaps.
Though with a win-now attitude and a lineup that perfectly suits him, Filip Forsberg may make his way onto the Maple Leafs, and while the risk is there, the reward is just that much sweeter.
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