Scott Laughton Traded to the Los Angeles Kings

Elliotte Friedman has confirmed that Scott Laughton has been traded to the Los Angeles Kings. The trade was made official right at the NHL trade deadline close on March 6, 2026. He’ll go from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Kings for a third-round pick.

Insider Elliotte Friedman broke it, with confirmation coming from other sources immediately after.

Laughton, 31, is a reliable bottom-six center/winger known for his two-way play and faceoff skills. He’s a pending UFA after this season with a modest $1.5M cap hit. This season, he’s got eight goals, four assists, 12 points in 43 games, plus/minus -3, solid but modest production amid Toronto’s struggles. The Leafs sold off pieces on Friday, knowing it was best to move UFAs as a non-playoff team.

Originally drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers (20th overall, 2012), he spent 12 seasons there before Toronto acquired him at last year’s deadline (March 2025) for prospect Nikita Grebenkin + a conditional 2027 1st-rounder (top-10 protected). He played just ~76 games total with the Leafs, but his production was often hit or miss.