Maple Leafs Acquire Scott Laughton From the Philadelphia Flyers

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Laughton fills a need at centre for the Maple Leafs.

In return, the Flyers receive a first-round pick and Nikita Grebenkin. Grebenkin, a 6-foot-2, 209-pound winger, was Toronto’s 2022 fifth-round pick and has scored nine goals and 21 points in 39 games with the American Hockey League (AHL) Toronto Marlies. TSN’s Darren Dreger‘s report on Wednesday mentioned that Laughton would “jump at the chance” to play for the Maple Leafs. Before being dealt to his hometown, Laughton knew he was on the trade market and made light of it. 

Toronto also receives a fourth and sixth-round pick from Philadelphia. The 30-year-old Laughton has scored 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games this season. The 6-foot-1 centre is in the fourth year of a five-year deal signed in 2021 with an annual cap hit of $3 million. With Philadelphia’s 50% retention, only $1.5 million will count against the cap for the Maple Leafs.

He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season. The Flyers’ 2012 first-round pick (20^th overall) has 106 goals and 265 points in 661 career games.