On pace for their fourth-straight 100-point campaign, the Maple Leafs fancy themselves to be Stanley Cup contenders. They haven’t gotten all that close to their target as of yet, falling in the first round of the postseason in seven of their last eight playoff appearances.
But the franchise’s desire to lift the Cup—and spell an end to the organization’s 56-year championship drought—remains steadfast. On Friday, Toronto made just the sort of move one would expect a contender to complete, adding longtime Flyers center Scott Laughton to its corps via trade.
Laughton, 30, is a workhorse, willing to get physical with opposition attackers and defensemen alike. He’s not the most prolific scorer—his career-high for points in a season is 43. But his aggressive streak figures to line up well next to Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander.
Securing Laughton’s services wasn’t cheap. He was Philadelphia’s alternate captain. And given the Flyers’ position in the Metropolitan Division table, they were certain to have a bevy of offers for the Oakville, Ontario native.
MORE: Tracking every NHL trade deadline deal
With that, here’s what you need to know about the Laughton. deal.
Scott Laughton trade details
Maple Leafs acquire:
- C Scott Laughton
- Fourth-round pick
- Sixth-round pick
Flyers acquire:
- RW Nikita Grebenkin
- 2027 first-round pick (top-10 protected)
Toronto gave up a pair of youthful assets to bring Laughton into the fold, parting ways with Nikita Grebenkin and a 2027 first rounder (top-10 protected) to land the 12-year big-league veteran. Grebenkin, 21, had 21 points in 39 games with the Marlies, Toronto’s AHL affiliate. A 2022 second-round pick, Grebenkin showcased solid scoring chops in the KHL — he tallied 19 goals and 22 assists across 67 games with defending KHL champions Metallurg Magnitogorsk in 2023-24. The only U-21 KHL talents with more points in 2023-24? Wild prospect Danila Yurov and Calder Trophy contender Matvei Michkov.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, will retain 50 percent of Laughton’s contract –$1.5 million in 2025-26.
Laughton has established himself as an ideal third-line center for contending sides, employing a two-way approach to great effect. Carrying a 6-1, 191-pound frame, Laughton might not be the most intimidating presence on the ice. But his hockey IQ and leadership skills have made him a much-vaunted commodity, particularly on the penalty kill. He tallied 56 block shots in 2023-24, the 59th-best mark among forwards. Couple that with decent offensive skills, and it’s easy to see the appeal of the former first-round pick.
Scott Laughton 2024-2025 stats
- 60 games
- 11 goals
- 16 assists
- 27 points
- 15:06 time on ice per game
- 21 penalty minutes
- 33 blocked shots
- 129 hits
- 14 takeaways
