How Maple Leafs could address top 2 needs in trade with Flyers
The Toronto Maple Leafs enter the trade deadline with two pressing needs: a defensively reliable third-line center who can chip in offensively and a big, physical right-handed defenseman who could ideally play alongside Morgan Rielly at five-on-five. Addressing both needs won't be easy with limited trade assets and cap space, but it's possible. In fact, the Maple Leafs could maybe do it in one trade.
Enter the Philadelphia Flyers, sellers ahead of the deadline as they continue to rebuild. Center Scott Laughton and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen are both rumored to be available for the right price. Neither are rentals, so general manager Daniel Briere doesn't need to force his hand. Laughton is signed through next season at $3 million annually, while Ristolainen has an additional two years remaining on his contract with a $5.1-million cap hit.
Laughton, a native of Oakville, Ontario, is a gritty center who's averaged 40 points per 82 games over the last few campaigns. The 30-year-old's defensive metrics are solid this season, both at even strength and on the penalty kill.
Ristolainen's career has been up and down, but he's turned his game around under John Tortorella. He's produced strong underlying results this season while playing top-four minutes (20:31 per game) and starting just 40.6% of his shifts in the offensive zone. The 30-year-old is physical and boasts a 6-foot-4, 208-pound frame, traits coveted by Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving.
But what would Toronto need to give up to get both players? The asking price for Laughton alone is reportedly a first-round pick. It'll take additional assets for Ristolainen, especially with salary retention involved. Here's our best guess at a trade that could leave both GMs content.
| Maple Leafs receive | Flyers receive |
|---|---|
| F Scott Laughton | F Nick Robertson |
| D Rasmus Ristolainen* | F Jacob Quillan |
| 2025 5th-round pick | D Conor Timmins |
| 2026 1st-round pick** | |
| 2025 2nd-round pick | |
| 2027 3rd-round pick |
*Flyers retain 50% of Ristolainen's contract, bringing his cap hit down to $2.55 million.
**2026 first-round pick is top-10 protected. If it falls in the top 10, Philadelphia receives Toronto's 2027 first-rounder unprotected.
Toronto would be cap compliant after the trade by retroactively moving Max Pacioretty to long-term injured reserve and placing Connor Dewar, Ryan Reaves, and Dakota Mermis on waivers.
These wouldn't be the sexiest additions, but both players fit the mold of what the club is looking for. With higher-end trade targets like Brayden Schenn possibly no longer available now that the St. Louis Blues are making ground in the playoff race, this could be the Maple Leafs' best avenue. It's a lot of assets to give up, but Toronto is in win-now mode.
Laughton could soak up some defensive-zone faceoffs, freeing Auston Matthews and John Tavares for more offensive opportunities. His presence would also allow Max Domi to play the wing, where he's best suited. Toronto's forward group could look something like this:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
| Knies | Matthews | Marner |
| Holmberg | Tavares | Nylander |
| McMann | Laughton | Domi |
| Lorentz | Kampf | Jarnkrok |
The defense would also be much closer to Stanley Cup caliber. Rielly has thrived with rugged, defensive-minded partners like Ristolainen in the past. The addition would also allow Oliver Ekman-Larsson to anchor a third pair, a weakness for the Maple Leafs this season. Here's how Toronto's defense could look once Chris Tanev returns from injury:
| LD | RD |
|---|---|
| McCabe | Tanev |
| Rielly | Ristolainen |
| Ekman-Larsson | Myers |
| Benoit |
With the strong goaltending tandem of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, this would arguably be the best roster the Maple Leafs have iced in the Matthews-Marner-Nylander era.
For the Flyers, the first-rounder is the centerpiece of the package. Otherwise, it's certainly more quantity rather than pure quality. But there are still some intriguing assets coming back.
Robertson, 23, is the best player heading to Philadelphia. The undersized winger has flashed offensive potential, scoring at a 19-goal pace since the start of last season despite averaging 11:44 per game. Timmins battled injuries and some inconsistencies when healthy early in his career, but he's still a 6-foot-3 right-shooting defender who's only 26. Both will be restricted free agents at season's end. Quillan, 23, was a sought-after college free agent a year ago and would give the Flyers someone who could potentially be a bottom-six center down the line.
Philadelphia might choose to hang on to Laughton and Ristolainen. Briere could demand one of Toronto's higher-end prospects, like Easton Cowan or Fraser Minten, and not budge. However, a six-asset return could be too tempting to pass up.
(Cap source: PuckPedia)