The consistent theme over the last few seasons has been the high asking price that the Philadelphia Flyers have set for their trade targets, specifically Scott Laughton.
Entering the 2024-25 season, and even a few months in, it just didn’t seem all that likely that management was willing to open the door to Laughton’s departure. However the Morgan Frost-Joel Farabee trade opened the door and now trade talks have begun to intensify regarding the veteran.
It’s not the first time that trade talks have picked up for Laughton but it does finally feel like the Flyers have chosen a specific path and are ready to set it ablaze.
Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco was the first to report last Saturday that trade talks have reopened and that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winning Jets were the two teams who had intensified their pursuits.
The Maple Leafs should come as no surprise considering their past interest in Laughton dating back to before he signed his long-term extension and the fact that he hails from Oakville, Ontario, which is not too far from Toronto.
Add in Toronto’s desperation to add snarl and grit to their lineup and their need for a 3C with Max Domi and Pontus Holmberg not panning out at the moment, it’s almost a match made in heaven.
Di Marco reported that the Flyers remain stringent on their asking price of a first round pick but are also willing to take on a top prospect, preferably down the middle, and could be enticed to take on a contract to help push through a trade. Similarly to what they did with Colorado when they acquired a first-round pick and Ryan Johansen for Sean Walker.
The Maple Leafs don’t have a first round pick in 2025 and they are also right against the cap. The way they’ve orchestrated moves in the past is through salary retention and involving a third party.
However with the Flyers unwilling to retain any salary on what is already a team-friendly contract, Di Marco mentions a contract like David Kämpf attached to top future assets to alleviate a move.
The Flyers are believed to have interest in prospect Fraser Minten but Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving isn’t of the mind of moving off from Minten, Easton Cowan, or Ben Danford at the deadline. Considering their lack of assets and cap space, they might not have the choice to be selective and Laughton could be their biggest prize unless they truly get creative with other linked options like Brock Nelson.
As for the Jets, they’re not usually a team that you hear quite a lot about, despite their efforts to constantly fortifying their depth ahead of a playoff push. With the club sitting atop the entire league’s standings, the Jets could be looking for a variety of players this year.
Di Marco mentions that the Jets are a lot harder to read as well but based on the injuries they’re dealing with down the middle and in their top-9, Laughton is more of a need in Winnipeg than Toronto.
Working in their favour is that they have both first round picks in 2025 and 2026 but the Flyers don’t seem to have much interest in their prospects, at least compared to the Leafs and Minten. However, if Adam Lowry is out for an extended period of time, Laughton would fill out a spot admirably and could fortify their bottom-6 when they get healthy ahead of the playoffs.
Similarly to Toronto, their bottom-6 options and secondary scoring haven’t been all that great and while Laughton isn’t going to blow down the doors with his offense, he can still provide a punch. He’s barely two years removed from his 18-goal campaign and perhaps in a different system and with better wingers, he can regain that spark.
Centers are a hot commodity this year and while everyone is going to be in on Nelson or Brayden Schenn or even Ryan O’Reilly, the Flyers are in a favourable position with Laughton being revered league-wide and carrying a very team-friendly deal. He isn’t going to just be a rental either and with the salary cap rising to new heights in the next calendar year he becomes even more valuable.
The 12-year veteran is the second-longest tenured active Flyer behind only Sean Couturier. While it’s hard to see players like that leave your team, the Flyers are not in a position to compete, contend, or win games anytime soon. Laughton deserves a chance to try to win a Stanley Cup while also helping the Flyers receive top assets in return.
The first half of his career was marred by injuries but he’s truly taken a step forward since John Tortorella took over behind the bench. His shorthanded prowess was always talked about but it was put on display in recent years and when he’s on his game, he’s truly a valuable piece to a winning team.
The trade deadline is going to be very interesting this year with the Flyers dipping their toes into the water on several players. There’s even the opportunity that they become buyers and sellers, depending on which young centres are made available.
They reportedly kicked tires on Trevor Zegras before pivoting to Calgary and they apparently have a lot of interest in Dylan Cozens out of Buffalo. The Sabres are currently debating whether or not they want to move on from the 24-year-old but just like the Flyers, they’ve entertained offers and are taking phone calls.
Whether or not someone bites on Daniel Brière’s high asking price remains to be seen but with desperation slowly seeping in from contending clubs, the Flyers are in a prime position to strike.
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