Laughton is the third-line centre the Maple Leafs desperately needed, while the Flyers recoup some key draft capital, plus Grebenkin, whose physicality and straight-line approach to the net, and personality won some fans over despite his lack of production, in an earlier stint with the Maple Leafs.
Here’s our instant reaction, along with some trade grades
Maple Leafs get much-needed secondary scoring, defensive impact
The goal was to acquire a third-line centre capable of secondary scoring with some plus-defence and a willingness to remain with the Maple Leafs. Laughton checks all of those boxes, as a 30-year-old who matches the contention window with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander firmly in their primes.
Laughton instantly slots onto the third line, where he could centre Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson. It allows the Leafs to push Domi to the wing where he’s proven to be more impactful, he wins just under 50 percent of his faceoffs, and provides the team with some more lineup flexibility, which is always imperative.
Philadelphia controlled 53.9 percent of the expected goals when Laughton was on the ice at 5-on-5, and he can add some scoring punch to the bottom-six with 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games with the Flyers this season.
Considering that the Maple Leafs only had to surrender future assets, which won’t make an immediate impact at the NHL level, along with Grebenkin, who graded out as
The Leafs Nation’s fourth-ranked prospect within the system, this was an excellent return for the Maple Leafs. It appeared for a while that the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning were racing away in the Atlantic Division, but Treliving got his man.
Daily Faceoff’s Tyler Yaremchuk and Nate Thompson agreed with our initial assessment, as well.
Maple Leafs’ grade: A
Flyers gain some draft capital, potential bottom-six contributor in Grebenkin
Philadelphia is still building its future with rookie sensation Matvei Michkov as its centrepiece, and now have some real assets for the future, with a 2027 top-1o protected pick and some additional depth in Grebenkin. For a Flyers team that is trending towards the lottery, it allows the team to continue a steady rebuild and it may afford Grebenkin some playing time, where he’s a physical presence that drives to the net and was becoming a fan favourite early in his tenure with the Maple Leafs’ organization earlier this season.
This is a mutually beneficial trade, as the Flyers now boast six first-round picks over the next three drafts, and can continue to build Michkov and its young core, with the potential to remain somewhat competitive. The process may not have worked for the 76ers, but Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman may be able to provide Daniel Briere with some advice on how to use the draft and cap room to his advantage, while building around a foundational star. In any event, the Flyers should be happy with the return.
Flyers’ grade: A-
Get ready, hockey fans! The
Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the
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