When the Philadelphia Flyers dealt Scott Laughton at the 2025 NHL trade deadline, it already looked like a good deal by general manager Daniel Briere. They received Nikita Grebenkin as well as a 2027 first-round pick in exchange for the longtime Flyers forward, a fourth-round pick, and a sixth-round pick.
There were conditions attached to that Leafs’ first-round pick, though, and unless you’ve been living under a rock in recent months, you know how complicated things have gotten with that selection.
Along with adding Laughton in 2025, the Leafs also traded their 2026 first-round pick to the Boston Bruins in a package for defenseman Brandon Carlo. That pick, too, had conditions along with it, and that’s what has truly complicated which Leafs pick the Flyers will ultimately receive.
The pick that the Leafs traded to the Flyers is top-10 protected, and the pick they dealt to the Bruins turns out to be top-five protected. So when Toronto won the lottery, it pushed the pick to Boston back by a year or possibly two.
But it looks like we reportedly have some clarity on the situation.
NHL reportedly provides clarity on Maple Leafs’ first-round picks
On Wednesday afternoon, The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reported an update on the draft pick situation.
“Per a league source, the NHL has informed the Flyers that while they own the Maple Leafs’ 2027 first round pick (Laughton trade), the Leafs still have the option to transfer it to Boston if it’s in the top 10,” Kurz wrote. “In that event, the Flyers would receive Toronto’s 2028 first rounder.”
This mostly falls in line with what had been speculated regarding the Leafs’ future first-round picks, especially after they won the draft lottery in May.
And it benefits the Flyers.
The Bruins, of course, are one of the Maple Leafs’ biggest rivals. If Toronto does end up with a top-10 pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, it wouldn’t make sense for them to give it to Boston rather than Philadelphia. That would be like the Flyers giving a top-10 pick to the Penguins instead of the Bruins.
However, the Maple Leafs could galaxy brain this, depending on how the 2026-27 season unfolds and their outlook for the 2027-28 campaign.
If the Maple Leafs look like they’re going into a rebuild and could have an even better pick in 2028, they might opt to give the 2027 selection to the Bruins, especially if it’s in the 8-to-10 range of the top 10.
In that instance, the Flyers would then get an unprotected first-round pick from the Maple Leafs in 2028.
All in all, though, it looks like the Flyers will likely get the Maple Leafs’ pick in next year’s NHL Draft.
This is important for the Flyers as it can help them maneuver the trade waters with other teams. Knowing that they’ll likely have another first-round pick in 2027 rather than 2028 may make it easier for them to include their own first-round pick in a trade.
While it still isn’t set in stone, it’ll be nice for Briere & Co. to have some clarity heading into the offseason.
