The Leafs sent their 2027 first-round pick to the Flyers as part of a package to acquire Laughton at the 2025 trade deadline. Bob Frid / Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded center Scott Laughton to the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional third-round draft pick, per league sources.
Laughton, 31, is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. His current cap hit is $1.5 million. The Leafs sent their 2027 first-round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers as part of a package to acquire him at the 2025 trade deadline. Laughton has eight goals and 12 points in 43 games this season.
Though a Toronto native, Laughton struggled after the trade home last spring. He managed only four points in 20 regular season games and just two points, with zero goals, in 13 playoff games.
The Leafs traded for Laughton in the hopes that he could fill their then-troubled third-line center spot. Laughton, however, ended up fitting best as the fourth-line center, a position he’s held all season. And while those lines have occasionally been difficult to play against, they’ve struggled to produce offence and control the puck.
The Leafs have won only 44 percent of the expected goals in his five on five minutes.
His best on-ice contribution has come on the penalty kill.
Laughton has been the most trusted penalty-killing forward on a top-ranked penalty kill. What’s really helped there, outside of his smarts and scrappy nature, is the dominance he’s shown in the faceoff circle.
Laughton has won more than 60 percent of his shorthanded draws and a career-best of almost 57 percent overall.
Known for being a popular teammate during his long career in Philadelphia, Laughton quickly established himself as a likeable and influential personality with the Leafs.
Mar 7, 2026
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