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Scott Laughton’s Proving Maple Leafs Trade Wasn’t Silly After All

Did the Maple Leafs really overpay for Scott Laughton—or are we finally seeing why that first-round pick was worth it?

by
Old Prof
January 9, 2026

On March 7, 2025, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers for Scott Laughton, also adding a 2025 fourth-rounder and a 2027 sixth-round pick. They sent prospect Nikita Grebenkin and a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft back in the deal.

At the time, a good portion of Leafs Nation felt it was a lot to give up, especially given that a team devoid of prospects would trade a future first-round draft pick for a player who, at best, would be a bottom-six forward.

The Maple Leafs Have Made These Kinds of Trades Season After Season

It felt like a steep price and another example of a team too ready to mortgage its future in hopes of postseason success now. And Maple Leafs fans know how that has worked out. Regular season success; postseason failure.

Laughton hasn’t necessarily helped sway his naysayers. With five goals and two assists in 25 games, along with injuries that have kept him out of the lineup, he hasn’t cemented himself a steady role on the team. That said, he has, like last night, shown signs of why the Maple Leafs wanted this veteran on the roster.

Maybe the Maple Leafs didn’t overpay.

Scott Laughton trade Maple Leafs — Was Scott Laughton a positive trade for the Maple Leafs?

Laughton Showing Signs of Value for The Maple Leafs

In a tight 2–1 win over the Flyers, the Maple Leafs struggled to get their offense in gear. The power play, which had been better since Steve Sullivan took over, wasn’t generating chances. And Toronto was stuck killing off a series of penalties that seemed iffy if you are a Maple Leafs fan watching the game.

In the middle of all that, penalty-killing as he always does, Laughton grabbed the puck, took off on a breakaway, went straight to the net, and scored. Without that goal, the Maple Leafs would have lost the game on a shutout. Laughton’s goal pulled his team into overtime.

Ultimately, Easton Cowan won the game for Toronto on a wild sequence that resulted in a great feed from veteran John Tavares.

Where Laughton’s Value Lies for the Maple Leafs

As the season has played out, Laughton is starting to prove what a valuable fit he could be for a Maple Leafs team that is scrambling to make the postseason.

While Laughton isn’t going to score a ton of goals, his role in Toronto isn’t the same as it was in Philadelphia. He does all the little things that help teams win: he is a relentless forechecker, wins puck battles and is strong on his stick, is smart with his positioning, and he forces opponents wide instead of giving them the middle of the ice.

What Laughton is best at doesn’t often show up for him personally on the scoresheet. But they can be the difference between winning and losing. He protects leads and eases the tension on his linemates.

Laughton’s Faceoff and Penalty Killing Skill Matter

Going 19-for-20 in the faceoff circle in one game is impressive. That’s more than a nice number; that’s amazing. Laughton kills penalties like he’s fearless. He battles the opposition all over the ice. His shifts end up even, and he gives his coaches reasons not to overthink matchups. In short, he makes the Maple Leafs harder to play against.

As an opponent, if you make a mistake, he’ll help the Leafs capitalize on it. He’s reliable to a fault, which is a crucial trait when a team is working hard to make a playoff push. And that’s where the Maple Leafs find themselves today.

Was the Laughton Trade Worth It?

Determining what Laughton is worth often comes from looking at things that aren’t measured statistically. His teammates love and respect him. His energy is infectous and he drags his team back into games when they are down. He plays with passion without being reckless, and he reads plays before they happen.

Laughton is the kind of player a team wants when the playoffs roll around; the Maple Leafs just need to get there. If they do, it’s clear that Laughton will be of use.

Grading this Trade, I’d give it an A–. The price was high, but the Maple Leafs got exactly what they were after: a reliable, tough player who makes the playoffs feel a little less like rolling dice.