The Toronto Maple Leafs significantly addressed their center situation Friday, acquiring forward Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for prospect Nikita Grebenkin and a conditional 2027 first-round pick.
The Leafs also received a fourth-round pick and sixth-round selection in the deal. Their first-round choice in the transaction is top-10 protected. The Flyers are retaining 50% of Laughton's $3 million salary cap hit as well. He has one year remaining on a five-year contract.
Toronto had been in the market for a third-line center going back to the offseason. Early injuries to top pivot Auston Matthews only highlighted the Leafs' need to upgrade down the middle and they were finally able to add support with Laughton.
He's a quintessential power forward coming off three of his most productive seasons with the Flyers. Laughton has 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games this year and is averaging nearly 15 minutes per game. There's enough versatility in Laughton's game that he could potentially fill a role higher in Toronto's lineup as well if needed, and he can be an asset on both the power play and penalty kill.
To shore up at center, the Leafs sent away Grebenkin. The 21-year-old winger was a fifth-round choice by Toronto in 2022 and appeared in seven games for them this season. While Grebenkin didn't tally any points in his first NHL turns, he has a high ceiling to become a power forward in the league with good speed and a strong offensive upside.
The NHL's trade deadline passes Friday at 3 p.m. ET.
