The Toronto Maple Leafs head into this upcoming season with a clear opening on the top line. Two of the three spots are spoken for. Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews will be no-brainers on the team.
But the right-wing spot could be up for grabs. The Maple Leafs traded for Matias Maccelli with some wishful thinking in mind. But what if a much better option could be available to play alongside Matthews and Knies?
That option could be Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett. Tippett was the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. He was sent to Philadelphia in the 2022 trade deadline deal that sent Claude Giroux to the Florida Panthers.
Now, Tippett is an established player who still possesses considerable upside. Nevertheless, he’s been the subject of ongoing trade rumors in Philadelphia. So, why not pounce on an opportunity to get a solid top-six forward.
Here’s what this theoretical trade could look like:
Maple Leafs get:
Owen Tippett, F
Flyers get:
Nick Robertson, F
2026 third-round pick
2027 second-round pick
Calle Jarnkrok, F
The deal fetches four pieces for the Flyers. The most interesting player the Maple Leafs would send is Nick Robertson. He could take over Tippett’s spot in the Flyers’ middle six if he can find his game.
Calle Jarnkrok would be a cap dump to help make the math work. As such, the Maple Leafs would need to send him or David Kampf. Kampf could work as the Flyers need to bolster the depth down the middle.
As for the two draft picks, that’s the best the Maple Leafs can do at the moment. Toronto doesn’t have any additional picks to play with.
How Tippett Fits into Maple Leafs Lineup
Tippett has been on the cusp of scoring 30 goals. He’s got size, 6’1”, 209 pounds, and can skate. He’s got speed and the makeup of a power forward. He resembles Matthew Knies, so that would give the Maple Leafs two strong wingers to support Matthews.
The best part is that Tippett’s overall size and strength would make it extremely challenging for opposing defenses to handle the Maple Leafs’ top line. Imagine a line with Knies and Tippett bearing down on opposing defenders. Such a situation could leave Matthews open to do Auston Matthews-type things.
It’s a tantalizing idea to consider bringing in Owen Tippett, even if the price may be a little steep.
Tippett’s Contract Could Be a Concern for Toronto
Tippett is entering the second year of an eight-year, $49.6 million contract. As a result, He comes with a $6.2 million cap hit and has a no-trade clause from the third year on.
The Maple Leafs would need to clear cap space to fit Tippett’s contract under the cap. That issue would only affect this season. Next year, the rising cap could make it easier for the Leafs to accommodate Tippett’s cap hit.
Of course, there’s always the risk that last season’s down year could be a signal of a downward trend. Tippett scored 27 and 28 goals the previous two seasons. Last year, his production dipped to 20. That situation could be accounted for the overall poor year the Flyers had. So, a new shot in Toronto, playing with an elite center like Matthews, could help Tippett reach the 30-goal plateau.
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