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Scott Laughton could hold the key to getting a great package at the trade deadline and a new report shows his price is definitely starting to reach unseen territory.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs traded for Scott Laughton at least year’s trade deadline, it was seen as a shrewd move to bring in not only someone who can handle the bottom-six center role, but also offer leadership and a veteran voice in the locker room.
Laughton could surprisingly fetch upwards of a first-rounder for Maple Leafs
But as a pending free agent his name is being thrown around in potential trade talks and while he would be a great player to stick around given the team benefits greatly off-ice from his presence — there’s no denying he could help a contender.
That help could lead the Maple Leafs to getting a lot more for Laughton than they would have expected.
According to James Mirtle, the Maple Leafs are aware of what Laughton can bring in, and if he continues to showcase his two-way ability he might end up fetching more than just a mid-round pick:
I think it’s high, while they wanna get the extension done I don’t think they get to a number that makes sense. On the open market he’s getting a big number with real term.
For his part it makes no sense to extend unless the Leafs do something goofy, I would put it around a 7/10 if he gets moved. They’ll try to get an extension but if the right number for McMann is $4-million, how high do you go for Laughton with his age? $3.5-million with term?
I would take that but with so many teams needing center, I still think he can get a first round pick. There are a ton of teams; Minnesota, Montreal, there just won’t be a ton available. He’s at asking value of McMann, if the price is too high on an extension you have to do it.
If the Maple Leafs come out of the Olympics and end up faltering like they have previously, then selling high on whatever Laughton can bring is going to be imperative to how the team approaches the future.
Why trading Laughton makes sense even if it’s a tough decision
If a team like Minnesota wants Laughton, they might be willing to part with their 2027 first-round pick. Couple that with their 2026 third-rounder and perhaps a prospect like Caeden Bankier.
Bankier, 23, is a 6-foot-2 center who can also play the wing, and his playmaking ability is pretty solid albeit at the cost of some defensive issues. But with Toronto already employing the likes of Jacob Quillan, Bo Groulx, and Luke Haymes — defense is covered.
Laughton, 31, has 11 points in 39 games (8 goals, 3 assists) and has been a key part of Toronto’s solid penalty killing this year, and is known to have some scoring chops when down a man (two shorthanded goals).
But what he lacks in a lot of offense he brings elite defense and face-off ability, physicality, toughness, and a willingness to get in the dirtier areas of the game which is crucial come postseason time.
If Toronto is out of the picture come trade deadline, and they feel a retool is the best possible option then getting rid of Laughton is going to be hard, but it might be worth it at the end of the day.
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Scott Laughton’s price is starting to climb, and the Leafs can feel it
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