The Philadelphia Flyers stand to get another first-round pick in the 2027 NHL draft.
The pick stems from the highly confusing Scott Laughton trade that went down at the 2025 NHL trade deadline. The Maple Leafs unexpected tank this season, plus their landing of the first-overall pick, threw a major monkey wrench into the works.
As such, the 2027 first-rounder pledged to the Flyers in the Laughton deal apparently belonged to the Boston Bruins. However, as Flyers insider Kevin Kurz reported on Wednesday, the Flyers will get the Maple Leafs’ 2027 first-round pick.
But there’s a catch to the situation: If the pick turns out to be in the top 10, and it could very well be that way, the Leafs will have the option of deciding if the Flyers or the Bruins get the pick.
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. In that event, the Flyers would receive Toronto's 2028 first rounder.
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) June 10, 2026
In other words, if the Leafs make the playoffs, or at least Toronto doesn’t finish in top-10 territory next season, the Flyers get the pick, wherever it lands, and the Bruins get the 2028 pick.
If the Maple Leafs crash and burn again, and they end up in top-10 territory, Toronto gets to determine if the Flyers or the Bruins get the 2027 pick.
And that’s where an uncomfortable situation could ensue. As it stands, PuckPedia assumes the Flyers will get the 2028 first-rounder. Is there something that PuckPedia knows that we don’t?
The assumption that everyone is making is that, had the Leafs’ first-round pick not finished in the top five this year, the Bruins would have gotten Toronto’s 2026 first-rounder and the Flyers the 2027 selection. As such, since Toronto got its 2026 pick back, the two traded picks were just pushed back a year.
Well, according to Kurz, that’s not going to be the case. The unlucky team in this situation would be the Bruins, as they would have to wait two years to finally get their pick.
Flyers could face potential bidding war
One of the things I’ve cautioned readers is that the Leafs could find themselves in a position to pit the Bruins and Flyers against one another for that 2027 first-rounder. There is no way the Leafs could weasel out of sending the pick to either team.
But if it just so happens to be a top-10 pick, Toronto could say, “We could use a little extra something to pick you (Flyers or Bruins).”
The issue with that stance is that both clubs, the Bruins and the Flyers, would likely turn to the NHL and demand clarification. While such a posture by Toronto might not be technically illegal, the league might frown upon the situation.
Still, the Leafs could exert some behind-the-curtain pressure on both clubs. Whoever pays up gets the pick. And you have to wonder, if it’s, say, a top-five pick, what would the Bruins be willing to give up for it? Would the Flyers be willing to outbid Boston?
Those are questions that could remain in the air until after the 2027 NHL Draft Lottery. If the Maple Leafs play well enough to avoid the top 10, that would save us a lengthy discussion. So, it seems that the debate regarding this situation could be on hold until about a year from now.
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