"Laughton never fully found his footing in Toronto, tallying just 10 goals and 16 points in 63 regular-season games and two assists in 13 playoff games, but he had his moments, including some impressive shorthanded goals. He was one of the league's best PK centers (and PK faceoff takers), a true pro and competitor, and a refreshing voice in the media/around the dressing room as a Toronto native who clearly appreciated the special opportunity to don the Leafs jersey."
"At five-on-five, Laughton was largely deployed as a depth center with some checking utility, playing the vast majority of his minutes on a line with Steven Lorenz and starting under 20% of his shifts in the offensive zone. There was more juice to squeeze from a sparkplug-type player with jam, speed, and some underrated skill, to be sure, but we didn't see much creativity around elevating him within the lineup into different spots."
"Especially knowing Laughton plays a premium position and his cap hit was half-retained already/will cost LA peanuts at $1.5 million, this is an underwhelming outcome: hoping LA makes the playoffs so it can be a mid-to-late second-round return."
The Toronto Maple Leafs completed their 2026 deadline by trading Scott Laughton to the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional third-round pick that could become a second-round selection if LA reaches the playoffs. Laughton, acquired a year prior for a 2027 first-round pick and prospect Nikita Grebenkin, underperformed with 10 goals and 16 points in 63 regular-season games. Despite being an elite penalty-kill center, strong competitor, and respected locker room presence as a Toronto native, Laughton struggled to make an impact. The coaching staff bears responsibility for the disappointing outcome, as Laughton was underutilized as a depth center with limited offensive-zone deployment, despite possessing speed and skill that could have been better leveraged in different lineup roles.
Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove
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