Confirmed with Link: Laughton 50 Retention A 4th and A 6th to the Leafs for A Conditional 2027 1st Round Pick and Nikita Grebenkin

[Peasy]

The point is we paid a premium asset to not solve a problem, we still have a hole at 3C and the line still has no identity other than whether Domi is feeling it that night or not. If you need a bottom 6 grinder, Tanev is better and went for a 2nd. If you need a 3C, Laughton isn’t one. If you need a speedy prime aged LW like Colorado/Vegas picked up Lehkonen/Barbashev, Zetterlund went for a 2nd + prospect.

Overpaying is the nature of the deadline, I don’t care about the 1st or Greb that much, it’s overpaying for someone that doesn’t solve a problem on the team and still needing to overpay again in the future to try to solve it going forward.

Its amazing so many people fail to grasp this concept.

 

[PanniniClaus]

The point is we paid a premium asset to not solve a problem, we still have a hole at 3C and the line still has no identity other than whether Domi is feeling it that night or not. If you need a bottom 6 grinder, Tanev is better and went for a 2nd. If you need a 3C, Laughton isn’t one. If you need a speedy prime aged LW like Colorado/Vegas picked up Lehkonen/Barbashev, Zetterlund went for a 2nd + prospect.

Overpaying is the nature of the deadline, I don’t care about the 1st or Greb that much, it’s overpaying for someone that doesn’t solve a problem on the team and still needing to overpay again in the future to try to solve it going forward.

This is it for me. We had a problem and we made this trade to fix it. Clearly that did not work so now we are trying to shoehorn him into a LW slot somewhere.

His "hits" last night... yep, he did enough to register a hit, but he did it with all the ferocity of a baby panda..

I may need to take a couple of days off from this thread. Watching him play is taking away my enjoyment from the games. Zero intensity..

 

[TheShape]

Textbook case of "sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make." I had Foligno PTSD when this deal was announced.

 

[The Shadow]

The point is we paid a premium asset to not solve a problem, we still have a hole at 3C and the line still has no identity other than whether Domi is feeling it that night or not. If you need a bottom 6 grinder, Tanev is better and went for a 2nd. If you need a 3C, Laughton isn’t one. If you need a speedy prime aged LW like Colorado/Vegas picked up Lehkonen/Barbashev, Zetterlund went for a 2nd + prospect.

Overpaying is the nature of the deadline, I don’t care about the 1st or Greb that much, it’s overpaying for someone that doesn’t solve a problem on the team and still needing to overpay again in the future to try to solve it going forward.

Weren’t you praising this trade on page 1?

NeverMind. It was someone else

 

[Budz]

Pure comedy in here.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I have a dream that one day every man, woman, and child of Leafs Nation shall be exhalted drinking from the glory of the Lord Stanley's Cup.

It's mindboggling Treliving took a look at Laughton and said to himself "there's a quality 3C... better trade a 1st and prospect for him". Almost makes you want to cry it's so dumb. This is bordering on a sports crime.

I swear if ML$Epr hadn't already threatened me with harassment charges I'd be giving them such a hard time on Facebook and Twitter right now.

Successful NHL franchises are able identify quality pro players and trade for them at reasonable cost. And they get the results they deserve. But not this one, oh no, not ML$E.

And they get the results they deserve too.

Being a Leafs fan is like a being in a religion. We all hope and pray every day things will get better. We just don't expect it to happen until after we're dead is all.

One thing's for sure is the Leafs are never gonna reach the promised land with Treliving making trades like these.

 

[leafan11]

The biggest problem with Laughton (also preventing him from playing center) his skating is TERRIBLE.

 

[Magic Man]

Hagel’s 21 goals 37 points in 55 games at 23 the season he was traded would be far and away Laughton’s best season. He’s never even broken 20 goals in 82 games let alone 55. Hagel was visibly fast and has a great shot, even if he doesn’t score you can see he does a lot of things much better than average fillers. What skills is Laughton in the top half of the league at?

At age 25 combined between regular season and playoffs Laughton had 18 goals and 36 points in 64 games. Laughton is a 35-45 point player when playing well, he is not likely to tick upwards at the rate Hagel did. But, he is underperforming now relative to his ability in this short sample, the same way Hagel did when forced to another team mid-way through the year. When he came back the following year with reduced pressure he was able to find his place and become an impact player. That could still happen here wherever he fits into the lineup.

Laughton is versatile playing both center and wing, making him an option on line #2 or #3. He is often deployed on the top PK unit and has been trusted in defensive situations by his previous coaches. He does bring a lot of physicality. They haven't all been bone jarring, but he lays the body, engages in scrums and he has even fought already. I will agree I haven't noticed much in the way of offensive skill thus far, but he is rounded when not providing offense.

Greb is already more talented than Laughton is offensively... not sure it translates, but however bad you think Greb was offensively, he already was more skilled than Laughton.

Right now Laughton's game isn't translating to the NHL either, so not sure who would have been a better fit this year, but I think Greb likely is an NHLer at some point, even in a limited role, but that looks like what we traded for anyway.

Greb's most common linemates were Reaves and Dewar, he's shown flashes and is young, I don't like that we gave him up.

I found myself unimpressed with Grebenkin's consistency at the AHL level. He didn't control the game the same way the better players on the team seem too. Where they're always making plays and getting their chances. I found a lot of the time he would go long stretches without making anything happen and the only time I'd really notice him was when he'd make a heavy collision or get involved after the whistle. I think he can make the NHL as 4th line energy guy for sure. I'm not sure he's good enough on the offensive and defensive side to be a top-9 winger. Time will tell.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Laughton stinks and is more compareable to me than to Hagel.

 

[Magic Man]

Laughton stinks and is more compareable to me than to Hagel.

When Hagel scored 13 points in his first 45 games as a Lightning player, including 23 playoff games after they paid 2 1sts, 2 4ths and 2 depth players/prospects they probably weren't very happy with him. Had he produced at the rate they thought they were paying for Tampa likely would have beat Colorado and won the cup. Only for him to become a star forward in the league over the next few seasons. No new cups for Tampa though because Hagel didn't immediately live up to expectations.

This market is very tough on players.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

They ended up keeping him, but I wonder if we could've pried Rakell with some retention out of Pittsburgh with a combined package of 1st, Grebenkin, Dewar, and Timmins. Maybe Robertson instead of Dewar to sweeten the pot; and/or one of Kyle's old picks (Niemela, Hirvonen) as well. A third line of him, Jarnkrok, and Domi could’ve been a decent offensive force. Not a centre of course but at least Rakell does something exceptional, score goals and put up points.

I dunno. Right now any other move regarding a forward (including not making one at all) looks better than what we ended up doing with Laughton.

 

[Peasy]

Would have rather spent a 1st on someone like Zetterlund. At least hes younger, has shown upside, is physical, and can play up and down the line up.

Having Scott Laughton as your guy that you want is just such a wtf and says a lot.

 

[The Shadow]

Pure comedy in here.

Dark comedy

 

[The Shadow]

When Hagel scored 13 points in his first 45 games as a Lightning player, including 23 playoff games after they paid 2 1sts, 2 4ths and 2 depth players/prospects they probably weren't very happy with him. Had he produced at the rate they thought they were paying for Tampa likely would have beat Colorado and won the cup. Only for him to become a star forward in the league over the next few seasons. No new cups for Tampa though because Hagel didn't immediately live up to expectations.

This market is very tough on players.

We are comparing a young newish player to the nhl to a 700 game veteran who is over 30?

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

When Hagel scored 13 points in his first 45 games as a Lightning player, including 23 playoff games after they paid 2 1sts, 2 4ths and 2 depth players/prospects they probably weren't very happy with him. Had he produced at the rate they thought they were paying for Tampa likely would have beat Colorado and won the cup. Only for him to become a star forward in the league over the next few seasons. No new cups for Tampa though because Hagel didn't immediately live up to expectations.

This market is very tough on players.

He had zero points in a 7-2 blowout that saw both David Kampf and Max Domi score goals.

He's not a capable centre. From what I've seen I question if he's even an above replacement level player. Quit making excuses for the guy.

He's just gonna make you look bad too same as he is Treliving right now.

 

[Torontonian]

I stated before, if you're going to trade for a player, need to do it as early as possible.. It takes time to adjust to everything. Laughton was with Philly for over 10 years, not trying to make an excuse for his minimal impact, but he is human after all.

Hopefully he finds his game over the next 11 games with a new revamped 3rd line and can help come playoff time.

 

[Confucius]

I stated before, if you're going to trade for a player, need to do it as early as possible.. It takes time to adjust to everything. Laughton was with Philly for over 10 years, not trying to make an excuse for his minimal impact, but he is human after all.

Hopefully he finds his game over the next 11 games with a new revamped 3rd line and can help come playoff time.

Even if he finds his game, he isn’t worth what we paid for him.

 

[GQS]

I stated before, if you're going to trade for a player, need to do it as early as possible.. It takes time to adjust to everything. Laughton was with Philly for over 10 years, not trying to make an excuse for his minimal impact, but he is human after all.

Hopefully he finds his game over the next 11 games with a new revamped 3rd line and can help come playoff time.

Even at his best he still isn't much of a difference maker. Not elite defensively and not producing much offensively. Never knew why some people here along with Leafs management thought he would contribute much to the team and why we would want to get him other than he was available and was a center. If we were going to get a player from the Flyers I'd rather it have been Kuzmenko.

It only cost the Kings a 3rd pick and while I don't know if he's decent defensively or not, we know that he can provide some offense that the Leafs sorely need more of in their lineup. Would rather have him than Laughton as he actually fills a need and could've been had for a fraction of the cost that Brad paid for Laughton. Who knows maybe he'll come alive in the playoffs and play out of his mind and prove me wrong. I'll be happy to come back here and say I was completely wrong about him if he does, but I'm not holding my breath on that though.

 

[thewave]

Any scout that didn't protest this should be fired. What a freaking disaster.

 

[Brown Dog]

What other way? It’s a protected first, if it doesn’t workout and Laughton sucks plus we suck, the pick is protected and it goes to 2028.

If there was a better deal available I’m sure they would have used the “valuable” asset elsewhere

I guess I would say if this was the best they could do with that asset, might as well just save that bullet for another day.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Dark comedy

I can't trust Leafs management after this horrible trade do they know what they are doing?

 

[francis246]

I guess I would say if this was the best they could do with that asset, might as well just save that bullet for another day.

Maybe, but I don’t think you can operate like that. If Max goes down at any point before playoffs we’d be pissed we didn’t make a move. Again I don’t think the 2027 first rounder was getting anything valuable at the deadline, teams would rather picks in this years draft. Anyways it was a gamble let’s hope it pays off

 

[Brown Dog]

Maybe, but I don’t think you can operate like that. If Max goes down at any point before playoffs we’d be pissed we didn’t make a move. Again I don’t think the 2027 first rounder was getting anything valuable at the deadline, teams would rather picks in this years draft. Anyways it was a gamble let’s hope it pays off

For sure. I'm pulling for him to turn it around in the playoffs but not feeling too optimistic about that.

As for the 2027 pick having diminished value because it's so far away, all the more reason to hold that asset and allow it to mature. Especially since Laughton has no real upside to justify using it now.

 

[francis246]

For sure. I'm pulling for him to turn it around in the playoffs but not feeling too optimistic about that.

As for the 2027 pick having diminished value because it's so far away, all the more reason to hold that asset and allow it to mature. Especially since Laughton has no real upside to justify using it now.

Absolutely, I agree with you, maybe we could have held off on the trade itself and just promoted Dewar into that spot. I just disagree with others who believe those assets would have netted us a Brandon Tanev or Zetterlund for example. SJ wants picks now, not 3 drafts from now which won't align with their rebuild, Grier might not even be the GM in 3 years, what's he gonna do with that pick. I just think league wide that package was not grabbing you an impact player, especially with the added conditions and protections ontop of it.

 

[definedMF]

Seems like Tre and his scouts are NOT good at evaluating forward skills, as much as they are great at identifying defenseman.

Tanev, OEL, Carlo, Myers have all been solid adds and his only FA forward add was a perfect grinder in Lorentz.

When it comes to getting middle/top six talent, he seems to struggle or so he has shown so far with us, considering we sent a sizable package for Laughton who seems to be a dud personified. He still has 11 games to gain traction, but if anyone with sense on our forward group knew that we needed to:

1. Get a PROPER 3C, not a 3LW cosplaying as 3C
2. Get a deal done EARLIER (less urgency and less reason to spend assets just to say you got someone by deadline)
3. If a 2C/3C are too expensive or don't exist, pivot and get a solid 3LW/RW like Tanev, Zetterlund, Gourde, Bjorkstrand etc.

Domi as we know it, is a fine 3C when HE wants to be, and to insulate his woes as a 3C you get a proper winger for him, since Robertson can't do crap alone on that line and clearly Laughton can't either (so far).

I would totally have been okay with going for a package like Frost and Farabee instead, two 25 year old centre wingers with speed and skills. Much better than Laughton on paper.