The Flyers might be coming for the Leafs first round pick tonight and most fans have no idea this is possible
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
All the focuses on the Boston Bruins, but the Philadelphia Flyers are looking to steal a first-rounder from the Maple Leafs as well; a lot sooner than expected too.
As the draft lottery commences from New Jersey in only a few short hours, the focus is going to be the winner of the first overall pick wit the Canucks expected to be the ones coming out on top though anything can happen.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team who are just hoping they get themselves their first-rounder in general because as long as they stay in the top-five, they will keep their pick and not give Boston a pick this season.
Flyers gunning for the Maple Leafs' 2027 pick and they want it unprotected too
However, with the Maple Leafs lucking out, it does bring up a pretty interesting little caveat with this whole situation — they are going to lose two straight draft picks.
The Athletic's Kevin Kurz; who focuses on the Philadelphia Flyers, gave a bit of a detailed description regarding how the Flyers feel about the situation should Toronto win:
Reminder for tonight's draft lottery: According to multiple team sources, the Flyers believe that if Toronto ends up in the top 5, they get that 2027 first rounder (originally property of the Maple Leafs) unprotected, and not top 10 protected.
They believe that Toronto essentially already traded its 2028 first round pick in the Brandon Carlo deal in that situation.
They believe that Toronto essentially already traded its 2028 first round pick in the Brandon Carlo deal in that situation.
So to break that down as such:
- Toronto wins top-five selection; Flyers want unprotected 2027 first (Laughton Deal)
- Toronto then sends their 2028 first to Boston to fulfill the Brandon Carlo trade
- Toronto keeps their 2026 first-round pick (#1-5); lose their 2027 and 2028 first (PHI/BOS)
- Toronto then sends their 2028 first to Boston to fulfill the Brandon Carlo trade
- Toronto keeps their 2026 first-round pick (#1-5); lose their 2027 and 2028 first (PHI/BOS)
The fine details say Toronto transfers its 2027 or 2028 pick to Boston should they be in the top-five, and the Flyers are assuming Toronto will keep it and then give the Bruins that pick anyways and get the remainder.
Why this is horrible news for the Maple Leafs
Granted, the Maple Leafs will get to keep their 2027 first-rounder from Colorado as that is a separate deal and has no bearing on the conditions in this deal.
But that doesn't excuse the fact that they are already going to be shorthanded in draft assets for John Chayka and his band of merry misfits. Losing out two firsts already kills a lot of momentum, and the fact that one of the players is already gone and the other may be traded as well — what did they really get in the end?
Your only hope now is that Chayka isn't going to feel pressured to trade that other first to bring in someone, and given that it's Colorado's; it's likely a late pick anyways. But as we've seen in the past, you can't rely on the first round.
Right now, the best chance for Toronto to find their future is to make sure they keep as many young assets as possible and a first-round pick is basically the building block to finding your next star.
There have been several fantastic players who have come from the late first rounds like Brock Nelson, Rickard Rakell, Eeli Tolvanen, Randy Carlyle (yes, that one), and Patrice Brisebois so it's not like that pick is any less valuable.
So right now, the Maple Leafs have to hope that they win the lottery tonight, and the Flyers are hoping that they can get away with a little bit more help come 2027.
Though if Toronto falls out of the top-five — everything collapses anyways.
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