Scott Laughton traded to the Kings

Scott Laughton has been traded to LA in return for a third-round pick.

Laughton, who turns 32 this spring, was acquired by the Leafs last year at the deadline in a trade that many people have said (more than once) that it was a bad deal. He was dealt from the Flyers for prospect Nikita Grebenkin and Toronto's 2027 first round pick. The Flyers retained half of his salary, making his cap hit for this season, $1.5 million. He is a UFA this summer.

Laughton has played just over 13 minutes per game for the Leafs in both partial seasons on the team. He is nominally listed on the fourth line most of the time, but is played more like a third liner with special teams minutes adding to his totals. This is two minutes per game less than he played on the Flyers at the time of the trade.

Many people have expressed the opinion that he should be used more, but when that has been tried this season by the Leafs, it hasn't worked that way it does for Calle Järnkrok or Bobby McMann.

Laughton is a passionate, extreme energy player and an able centre who is usually a fan favourite. What the Leafs need to replace most is his job as a centre and as a high-energy force on a team that can be a little brainy sometimes.

Jacob Quillan is the next man up at the moment as a centre, and he is surprisingly tough, less flamboyant but a player who at the very least can play out the season. After that, we'll see.