GM Brad Treliving saved most of his work for the last moments of trade deadline day, making his second deal just below the buzzer at 3 p.m. ET. Pending unrestricted free agent Scott Lawton is headed to the Los Angeles Kings.
Like the earlier Bobby McMann deal, the Leafs did not secure a first-round pick for Laughton (nor were they expected to). They will settle for a conditional third-rounder from the Kings. If LA makes the playoffs this season it becomes a second-round pick. They are currently three points off the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.
Treliving had to give up Toronto's 2027 first-round pick plus prospect Nikita Grebenkin when they acquired Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers at last year's trade deadline. This is clearly a huge net loss for Treliving. They traded a first-rounder and a good prospect for a third-round pick (or second at best). A big L for the tree.
Laughton spent one calendar year with his hometown team and recorded 10 goals and 16 points in 63 games. Was it worth the decline in draft position for Toronto? Not so much.
What does Scott Lawton bring to the LA Kings?
The reliable bottom-six forward brings experienced leadership and secondary scoring (at times) to the Kings. He also has a high hockey IQ and a serious, physical edge to his game.
This isn't exactly the kind of move many were expecting from the Kings at the deadline, as the team was in desperate need of scoring. Laughton probably won't bring them that.
The Kings have lost two offensive players in the last few weeks. Kevin Fiala is out for the season due to a fractured foot suffered during a game with Switzerland during the Olympics. Andrei Kuzmenko was lost for the foreseeable future after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus. The Kings lineup has yielded 32 goals. Then again, that's not coming from Laughton.
They made their big move last month by acquiring Artemi Panarin from the NY Rangers. But it won't be enough to save the Kings' offense after the latest injuries, which ranks 29th in the NHL in goals per game.
As far as the Leafs are concerned, their final tally at the trade deadline is as follows:
Out: Nick Roy, Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton
IN: 2027 (or '28) first rounder, 2027 second rounder, 2026 fourth rounder, 2026 fifth rounder + conditional third rounder
