LA Kings acquire forward Scott Laughton from Toronto in exchange for conditional third-round pick
The LA Kings have acquired forward Scott Laughton from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick. The third-round pick becomes a second-round pick if the Kings qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, per General Manager Ken Holland.
Instant Analysis
A late trade has trickled in, as the Kings have acquired Laughton from the Maple Leafs.
Interesting move. And it fits the theme. The Kings both wheeled and dealed today. Adding and subtracting. It’s the kind of move that I thought might have been lacking when it appeared as if the team’s business was concluded for the day. Thought the Kings might work things this way, keeping their playoff chances similar while coming out ahead on future draft capital. Makes some sense to see Laughton added, making two forwards in and two forwards out.
Laughton was perhaps the most-sought after player at the trade deadline last season. He went to Toronto in exchange for a first-round pick and forward Nikita Grebenkin, who has spent the entire season in the NHL with Philadelphia. Laughton joins the Kings with a very low cap hit, with 50 percent of his contract already being retained by the Flyers from last season’s trade. He comes in with a hit of $1,500,000, off a season when he played in 13 postseason games with Toronto, averaging just shy of 14 minutes in those games.
Reports out of Toronto said that Laughton’s role with the Maple Leafs bounced between third and fourth-line minutes. Laughton is a useful penalty killer and is very adept in the faceoff circle, at 56.7 percent, which should help the Kings in both areas. Have heard very good things about his presence in the locker room as well, on top of his work ethic on the ice. Feels like the Kings are hoping to get the player Toronto hoped they acquired last season, a player who was good for 30+ points in Philadelphia, on top of all those other things. Laughton wore a letter in Philadelphia and was highly-thought of there. The difference is that it cost Toronto a first-round draft pick to make that trade last season, while the Kings make the move for substantially less. So, even if Laughton is not the top-end third-line center the Maple Leafs set out to acquire, the acquisition cost is much lower, so the upside certainly feels worth it on this one.
The Kings, who have been thin down the middle all season, get a bottom-six forward to conclude their deadline business. There’s a reason that contending teams were lining up to acquire this player at least season’s trade deadline, a reason that Toronto was willing to move a first-round pick to bring him in. That was a team that felt Laughton was the final piece in taking them over the hump in the playoffs. And Toronto wasn’t the only team willing to do it. Laughton is the kind of piece that contenders always look to add at this time of the year. The Kings aren’t in that position, a contender, but they acquired him for less than the going rate. Over the last week, how many players of this ilk have we seen go for a larger return? A fourth-line center for a second-round pick, plus, felt like the minimum of the going rate. I dunno. Feels like really good value for the Kings here, without sacrificing what they built earlier in the day, while still helping the group push towards the playoffs. Instead of a net sell, it’s more of a reshuffling, and that
Will share some thoughts about the overall theme of the deadline a bit later in the day. But it’s pretty clear. With regards to playoff contention, the Kings feel exactly where they were when yesterday began. They added two forwards and subtracted to forwards. The draft capital coming in, however, is better than the capital going out. The Kings amassed two second-round picks and a pick swap that should move them up in Round 3. What does out remains to be seen, but it’s either a second or third round draft selection.
It’s a net gain overall. Expecting to hear from General Manager Ken Holland shortly,
From the team’s official release –
The LA Kings have acquired forward Scott Laughton from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a conditional third round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Laughton, 31, has appeared in 43 games for the Maple Leafs this season, recording eight goals and 12 points (8-4=12) with two shorthanded goals, one game-winning goal and 17 penalty minutes (PIM).
Originally selected 20th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2012 NHL Draft, Laughton joins the Kings as a veteran of 724 career regular-season NHL games across 13 seasons between the Maple Leafs (2024-26) and Flyers (2012-25), amassing 116 goals, 281 points (116-165=281), 12 shorthanded goals, 10 game-winning goals, 1,397 hits, 416 blocked shots and 414 PIM. He has added six goals and 12 points (6-6=12) in 37 career Stanley Cup Playoff matchups.
The 6-1, 190-pound forward’s 12 career shorthanded goals and 25 shorthanded points (12-13=25) pace all skaters from his draft class while his 1,397 hits and 416 blocked shots rank fourth and sixth, respectively, among forwards from his draft. Laughton’s best NHL season came in the 2022-23 campaign where he set career-highs in goals (18), points (43), power-play goals (5), shorthanded goals (3), shots (170) and blocked shots (57).
A native of Oakville, Ontario, Laughton has suited up for 105 career American Hockey League (AHL) contests with the Lehigh Valley and Adirondack Phantoms, posting 34 goals and 69 points (34-35=69) along with three points (2-1=3) in five career Calder Cup Playoff outings. Prior to joining the professional ranks full-time, Laughton played four seasons (2010-14) of junior hockey with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), collecting 96 goals and 219 points (96-123=219) in 230 games. In his fourth and final year with Oshawa, Laughton recorded a team-best 40 goals as part of a personal career-best 80-point campaign (40-47=87) to earn OHL First All-Star Team honors.
Internationally, Laughton has represented Canada in three International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) tournaments, including the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship (gold), 2014 IIHF Men’s World Junior Championship and the 2012 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Junior Championship (gold).
