There’s growing speculation that Philadelphia Flyers forward Owen Tippett might be available for the right price, and if that’s the case, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving should be making a phone call to check in on the asking price.

Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco recently wrote that Tippett’s days could be numbered in Philadelphia, and considering some of the holes in the Maple Leafs lineup, and their interest in adding a top-six forward, there could be a deal to be made here.

Tippett played his junior hockey in Mississauga, and has turned himself into a consistent 20-goal scorer, who isn’t afraid to use his body to make an impact on the game. He has landed 115, 148, and 125 hits the past three seasons, and could give the Maple Leafs a nice mix of speed, skill, and determination among their top six. So far this season, the former 2017 first-round pick has scored five goals in 13 games, and is on pace for his first 30-goal season.

The 26-year-old is under contract through the 2031-32 season, at $6.2 million AAV, and with the salary cap going way up over the course of the next few years, $6.2 million AAV for a potential 30-goal scorer year in and year out is a steal. Tippett has trade protection on his contract, but it doesn’t kick in until July of 2026, so there’s really nothing holding this deal back besides Treliving making the right offer.

When it comes to what the Maple Leafs could over, there’s lots to consider here. Yes, Tippett could be available and there’s growing speculation the Flyers would be open to moving him, but the team is having a bounce-back season so far this year. They aren’t going to give Tippett away for nothing.

Flyers GM Daniel Briere has over $7 million in cap space to work with, so the money involved won’t be an issue for the Flyers, but it could be a hurdle for the Maple Leafs. Treliving has $3.6 million in cap space available, but would need to clear $2.4 million more to make this deal work, and be able to insert Tippett into Toronto’s lineup.

Nick Robertson seems like the first to go here for Toronto, and would give the Flyers a rare left-handed shot forward. They are loaded with righties, and Robertson could help subsidize some of Tippett’s scoring, as he also has 25-goal potential moving forward. Tippett gives the Maple Leafs a plug-and-play right-winger for their top two lines, and a new wrinkle to the mix of someone with blazing speed, who isn’t afraid to throw his weight around, while also having one of the best shots in the league. Tippett could take his game to the next level in Toronto.

After Robertson, Calle Jarnkrok seems like a reasonable throw in as he’s a pending free agent, who is owed $2.1 million against the cap. Having these two packaged gives Treliving the financial resources needed to get Tippett added under the cap, it allows for Robertson to get a change of scenery he’s been dreaming of for a couple of years, and it gives Easton Cowan a regular spot among the Maple Leafs top nine. Just Robertson and Jarnkrok are not going to get the job done for Briere, so it would likely have to be a prospect heading in the deal, and it feels like the Flyers would want defenceman Ben Danford. Considering how much term Tippett has on his contract, and the value it could bring the Maple Leafs if he’s scoring 30 goals at $6 million, moving Danford should be something the Maple Leafs consider here. For a rental? No shot, but Tippett is much more than that, and is in the prime of his career.

The Maple Leafs are in the market for a top-six forward, and have a few prime trade candidates to consider including in any deal. Tippett could wind up being one of the best forwards available this season, and if that’s the case, Treliving needs to consider making a very strong offer. These two teams have done business recently together, what’s one more deal?

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