Maple Leafs pay high price, fill major need with Scott Laughton trade
Brad Treliving fulfilled the greatest void the Maple Leafs’ lineup just a few hours before Friday’s deadline by acquiring legitimate third-line centre Scott Laughton. The price was steep, but it makes Toronto a better and more playoff-ready squad.
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DENVER — Scott Laughton knew he had finished his last supper as a Philadelphia Flyer, and now the Oakville, Ont., native will be welcomed home — to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After exploring some of the trade market’s higher-impact, higher-priced forwards — Brayden Schenn, Mikko Rantanen, Brock Nelson — Leafs GM Brad Treliving fulfilled the greatest void in his lineup just a few hours before Friday’s deadline by acquiring a legitimate third-line centre.
The rebuilding Flyers will retain half of Laughton’s already-reasonable $3 million salary and ship fourth- and sixth-round draft picks to Toronto in exchange for the Leafs’ 2027 first-round pick (top-10 protected) and 21-year-old right-wing prospect Nikita Grebenkin.
This was a seller’s market, and certainly Philly — hunting youth and picks — did well to secure a first and the energetic, fan-favourite Grebenkin for the 30-year-old Laughton.
But the Maple Leafs’ third line and centre depth were both in desperate need of bolstering if they are to take a serious playoff run.
Laughton has never scored more than 18 goals in a single season, but he’s durable, defensively responsible, and beloved by his Philadelphia teammates.
The gritty left shot will improve the Leafs’ 16th-ranked penalty kill, help tilt the ice despite starting most shifts in the D-zone, and can chip in some bottom-six offence (11 goals, 27 points through 27 games).
Moreover, Treliving — swinging to get on base here, not for the fences — has retained his three most prized prospects: Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, and Ben Danford.
By the time Laughton’s deal wraps, in 2026-27, Minten could well slide in seamlessly at the 3C position.
Further, Laughton’s $1.5-million cap hit looks incredibly kind on cap-crunched Toronto’s salary sheet and leaves plenty of wiggle room this summer, when Treliving must decide on an extension for 2C John Tavares, a significant raise for all-star winger Mitch Marner, and how many years of must-keep RFA Matthew Knies to purchase.
Though he loved life as a Flyer for a dozen seasons, Laughton himself is excited by the trade home.
After four long summers without a sniff of the playoffs, he’s headed back to the post-season.
The last time Laughton got to participate in the playoffs? He showed up, scoring five goals and nine points in 15 games in the 2020 bubble.
Is the Laughton deal a headline-grabbing move on the level of the trades Atlantic rivals Florida (Seth Jones) and Tampa Bay (Oliver Bjorkstrand, Yanni Gourde) made?
Nope.
But it does make the Maple Leafs a better and more playoff-ready squad — and gives them a better shot at winning the division than they had on Thursday.
