It would be unrealistic to say that trade season is heating up because ever since the Mikko Rantanen deal, it’s safe to say that the plate is already hot.

Like every other year around this time, the Toronto Maple Leafs are involved in trade talks with a number of teams, looking to upgrade on both sides of the puck if possible. They’ve been linked to Dylan Cozens of the Buffalo Sabres and, most recently, Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Laughton, 30, hails from Oakville and has played for the Flyers for his entire career, drafted 20th overall by the organization in the 2012 NHL Draft. He’s currently in the fourth year of a five-year contract worth $3 million annually, signed prior to the 2021-22 season.

He’s never been a stud offensively, with a career-high of 43 points, but his ability to play all three forward positions with a specialty up the middle of the ice is certainly something that will be appealing to the Leafs, given the current drop-off at centre once you get past Auston Matthews and John Tavares. Laughton has ten goals and 25 points in 53 games for the Flyers so far, and bringing him in would allow the team to spread out their offence and give them more than two lines that are a threat to score.

The only potential roadblock here is how much the Flyers value him. He’s an excellent third-line centre and has the ability to jump into the top-six if necessary, but the Flyers have been known to hold him at a costly price, having requested a first-round pick for him as recently as a month ago. The Leafs don’t have a first-round pick in 2025, so if it turns into a bidding war and other teams inquire, they’ll have a decision to make about whether Laughton is worth parting with it for.

It’s worth noting, however, that the Leafs have a piece the Flyers have eyes on,

The Leafs are in action against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night before the 4 Nations break takes effect.