The <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> have executed their first trade of the NHL Trade Deadline, acquiring forward Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers along with a 2025 fourth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for forward Nikita Grebenkin and a first-round pick in 2027. The Fourth Period&#8217;s David Pagnotta was the <a href="https://x.com/TheFourthPeriod/status/1898067627978702930">first to report</a>.
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The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/leafs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#leafs</a> send a first-round pick and Nikita Grebenkin to Philadelphia for Scott Laughton (50% retention), a fourth-round pick and sixth-round pick.
&mdash; Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) <a href="https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1898071354651689214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The first-round pick is top-10 protected, and the Flyers will also be retaining 50 percent of Laughton&#8217;s deal, bringing his cap hit down to $1.5 million and giving the Maple Leafs further flexibility to upgrade. The 30-year-old has 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games for the Philadelphia Flyers and has one year remaining on his deal. He&#8217;s in the 11th year of his NHL career with just shy of 700 games played, all of which to date with the Flyers. He&#8217;s second on their team in hits and logs more penalty-killing minutes than any forwards. While the offence isn&#8217;t much of a bone-shaker, he has a career high of 18 goals and 43 points, both achieved in 2022-23.
Laughton joined TSN immediately after the trade was announced to discuss his initial reactions to the trade, talking about how excited he was to head home and chase a Stanley Cup with his boyhood team.
&#8220;It’s pretty surreal. I think I found out 10 minutes ago,&#8221; Laughton said. &#8220;So, just kind of letting it all sink and kind of figuring out my way here. But, I’m excited for a chance at the playoffs. It’s been a while here in Philly but I&#8217;m extremely grateful to the Flyers and I’m excited for the opportunity.&#8221;
While the price of a first-round pick and a prospect may seem hefty off the hop, the Flyers retaining 50% of Laughton&#8217;s contract was a key component to the trade. The Oakville native will immediately jump into a penalty-kill role and fill the gap on their third line, and having him at a reduced rate for the next two playoff runs will come in handy for the rest of the day should they make any more upgrades, and it will help them at next season&#8217;s deadline. In addition to this, getting a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick will give them some extra draft capital.
Grebenkin, who was drafted in the fifth round by the Maple Leafs in 2022, is likely a piece the team would have preferred to hold onto, but there&#8217;s something to be said about avoiding parting with Fraser Minten, who the Flyers were initially in pursuit are.
The Maple Leafs are back in action on Saturday night when they visit the Colorado Avalanche.
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Get ready, hockey fans! The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff">Daily Faceoff Deadline</a> 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&#8217;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 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff">Daily Faceoff YouTube channel</a> and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!

The <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> have executed their first trade of the NHL Trade Deadline, acquiring forward Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers along with a 2025 fourth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for forward Nikita Grebenkin and a first-round pick in 2027. The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta was the <a href="https://x.com/TheFourthPeriod/status/1898067627978702930">first to report</a>.

https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1898071354651689214

The first-round pick is top-10 protected, and the Flyers will also be retaining 50 percent of Laughton's deal, bringing his cap hit down to $1.5 million and giving the Maple Leafs further flexibility to upgrade. The 30-year-old has 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games for the Philadelphia Flyers and has one year remaining on his deal. He's in the 11th year of his NHL career with just shy of 700 games played, all of which to date with the Flyers. He's second on their team in hits and logs more penalty-killing minutes than any forwards. While the offence isn't much of a bone-shaker, he has a career high of 18 goals and 43 points, both achieved in 2022-23.

Laughton joined TSN immediately after the trade was announced to discuss his initial reactions to the trade, talking about how excited he was to head home and chase a Stanley Cup with his boyhood team.

"It’s pretty surreal. I think I found out 10 minutes ago," Laughton said. "So, just kind of letting it all sink and kind of figuring out my way here. But, I’m excited for a chance at the playoffs. It’s been a while here in Philly but I'm extremely grateful to the Flyers and I’m excited for the opportunity."

While the price of a first-round pick and a prospect may seem hefty off the hop, the Flyers retaining 50% of Laughton's contract was a key component to the trade. The Oakville native will immediately jump into a penalty-kill role and fill the gap on their third line, and having him at a reduced rate for the next two playoff runs will come in handy for the rest of the day should they make any more upgrades, and it will help them at next season's deadline. In addition to this, getting a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick will give them some extra draft capital.

Grebenkin, who was drafted in the fifth round by the Maple Leafs in 2022, is likely a piece the team would have preferred to hold onto, but there's something to be said about avoiding parting with Fraser Minten, who the Flyers were initially in pursuit are.

The Maple Leafs are back in action on Saturday night when they visit the Colorado Avalanche.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139755" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2099/08/TradeDeadline-2025_programmatic_Article-727x404-2.png" alt="" width="728" height="405" /></a>

Get ready, hockey fans! The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff">Daily Faceoff Deadline</a> 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 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff">Daily Faceoff YouTube channel</a> and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!

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