Confirmed with Link: Laughton (50% retention), a 4th and a 6th to the Leafs for a conditional 2027 1st round pick and Nikita Grebenkin

[GoonieFace]

Not awful, decent player for cheap.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I dislike losing Greb but it’s better than Cowan, Danford, Minten

Also hate trading a 1st but at least in 2027 and top 10 protected.

Value wise, Trev did really well being patient with the market and found a player that isn’t a pure rental.

The bonus is this helps mitigate the centre position next season and makes it easier to move on from JT.

Laughton offers nice versatility in the top 9 .. similar to Jarnkrok but Laughton is more physical that skill. That suits the needs in the top 9 without a doubt.

Pretty handy work from Trev

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

We’re getting Laughton at 50% retained for this year and next, along with a 4th and 6th.

And sending our 2027 first and Grebenkin.

Not bad all things considered. Emotional devastation of losing Grebenkin aside this is a good trade. The retention for this season and next really helps, and our puck is top 10 protected in the case the Leafs shit the bed two years from now.

Good move. Goodbye Nikita, we hardly knew ye.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Apparently the pick is lottery protected. Still overpayment though I like the player.

If he is going to overpay again it needs to be the right player. Otherwise, I prefer he just wait until the offseason

 

[Fogelhund]

Why do the hockey guys all refer to him as a centre, they all wrong?

He's played more as a winger this year for Philly, though historically he's been a C. Unquestionably, we got him to play C here though.

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I don't love this deal, but I don't hate it either. He isn't the greatest defensively, but typically puts up above average offense for a third line player... Anything near 0.5 PPG is pretty good, and at $1.5 mil for this year, and next, that should be good for the cap hit. He plays a good physical game, playoff style, so it's a nice addition from that perspective. The cost wasn't crazy, it's a first for 2027, and hopefully in the late twenties... the odds that player contributes until 2029/30 if they are a forward are low, and if they are a D, it's a couple of years after that at best. So, we are talking about trading away a pick that isn't likely to make the team for four to six years from now at best, nor an impact for even longer.

A shame to see Grebenkin go, he was a lot of fun in the preseason... but he's going to be a bottom line NHL player, if he even makes it that far. 0.5 PPG in the AHL doesn't really point to much upside offensively. That's not replaceable.



It's the "safe" deal.

 

[Al14]

Bro, completely different scenarios and returns. Jets got no retention and Tanev is a rental, plus it's C vs W, also a big difference in Laughton's favor

I have to see how much of difference Laughton makes at 3rd C for our Leafs, however a speedy and gritty winger for only a 2nd rounder seems like better value than giving up a 1st rounder for only a 3rd line centre.

JMHO.

 

[BraveCanadian]

In exchange for what???

Too much!

Unless he turns over a new leaf (ha!) and is suddenly a much better player, they way overpaid for Laughton.

 

[MarMarSab3]

Tanev is a 4th liner lol come on man

I have to see the d

I have to see how much of difference Laughton makes at 3rd C for our Leafs, however a speedy and gritty winger for only a 2nd rounder seems like better value than giving up a 1st rounder for only a 3rd line centre.

JMHO.

 

[horner]

Cowen Minten and Danford are still here and picked up a 4th and 6th Rd pick and 50% retained for 2:yrs I like it.

 

[Kurtz]

Solid deal - solving the 3rd C problem for only 1.5m this year+next gives us a lot of options going forward.

 

[Malachi Crunch]

Given what we've seen other players go for, this is a pretty good deal. Bordering on very good.

Laughton is a reliable 3C. A heavy forechecker, shot-blocker and gets you 30+ points and goals in the teens. He also moves Domi to the wing, which I think is going to pay off right away. Also, we didn't lose Robinson! I've done a 180 on Robinson - I'm really starting to like him. He feels like part of the team now where before he always kinda looked disgruntled.....staring off into space.

I will miss Greb though. Really liked that guy. But, if I'm being honest with myself, he's the type of guy you can find in free agency pretty easily.

 

[Al14]

Tanev is a 4th liner lol come on man

And Laughton is ONLY a 3 C !!!

 

[DarkKnight]

I like Greb too, but we kept our top tier prospects, and the 1st isn't in our uniform for 5 years min. They retained, he's signed, he has a few years left for sure and he's cheap with the retention. I don't get the sky is falling routine, seems more knee jerk than logical. He's our 3C, we needed desperately and I guarantee fans like his game.

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

I have to see how much of difference Laughton makes at 3rd C for our Leafs, however a speedy and gritty winger for only a 2nd rounder seems like better value than giving up a 1st rounder for only a 3rd line centre.

JMHO.

Sure, I'll admit, I don't expect a ton from Laughton but what I value about this above anything else is thanking the lord we don't have to see Kampf or Holmberg at 3C

(praying he doesn't get Foligno'd or Owen Nolan'd getting injured after playing 1 game post-acquisition)

 

[BraveCanadian]

Knies Matthews Domi
McMann JT Willie
Robbie Laughton Marner
Lorentz Kampf Jarnkrap

lawl

 

[6ix]

Good trade for both teams

 

[BigBlu]

Love Robinson!

 

[capfit9]

Hoping for a Domi trade, need more size

 

[Leafsfan74]

I don’t love it but don’t hate it either



Trading a 1st was inevitable, 50% retention with an additional year on his deal is big.

Helps the roster beyond just the add as McMann or Domi can move into the top 6 LW, dropping Jarkrok to the 4th line and Holmberg as the 14th forward when Patches is healthy.

Knies - Matthews - Marner
Domi - Tavares - Nylander
McMann - Laughton - Robertson
Lorentz - Kampf - Jarnkrok

Is actually pretty solid

Don’t love it, don’t hate it, it was the safe predictable move that doesn’t really move the needle IMO.

I see McMann on the 2nd Line, Domi on the 3rd.

 

[francis246]

I hate that we never gave Grebs a fair shot. He would have been a nice power forward on that 4th line to pair with Lorentz as the other power forward on the LW but if they don't believe in him, may as well use him as a trade piece.

we did give him a fair shot. He played so well he elevated himself into being a top trade chip. that's the way it goes. There were still question marks about his skating, but he was our #3 prospect. Better to lose him than Cowan or Minten right now

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

Solid deal - solving the 3rd C problem for only 1.5m this year+next gives us a lot of options going forward.

The 1.5m next year is such a big deal I could easily see us swinging for the fence and going big time on a 3C this July because 1.5m is extremely palatable for even 4C (look at Kampf bloody contract ). So next season you could see them running Laughton on the 4th line with a legit 50pt at 3C, which is much better built for a Cup IMO

 

[htpwn]

I am willing to keep an open mind on Laughton. He's had some quality games against the Leafs over the years, but he's also had plenty of invisible ones, so here is hoping he brings the former.

The price, well… It could be tolerable if he actually solves the 3C problem for us, but he reverts back to being a winger (even a decent winger), then this will be a Foligno-level blunder.

Management overpaid to fill this position. It better damn well be filled and we better damn well not be talking about “bolstering our centre depth” in March 2026.

 

[Fogelhund]

‪@jfreshhockey.bsky.social‬

Following
Scott Laughton, acquired by TOR, is a third line net-crashing centre who plays with an edge. Crashes the net, retrieves and steals pucks, throws hits. Generally produces pretty well. Finishing touch not amazing. Production has been stable, but impact has bounced back from 23-24.

 

[Warden of the North]

I hate that we never gave Grebs a fair shot. He would have been a nice power forward on that 4th line to pair with Lorentz as the other power forward on the LW but if they don't believe in him, may as well use him as a trade piece.

4th line players are available every summer at league minimum.

Just sayin'

 

[Puckstuff]

Laughton is a 3rd liner, but he's a legit 3rd liner. A guy that can give you 35-40 points on a bad team can only be a lock to get 40 here with better players. He isn't soft either. I hope we finally put Domi on the wing with Matthews now.

Knies - Matthews - Domi
McMann - Tavares - Marner
Robbie - Laughton - Nylander