Starting immediately, the Los Angeles Kings gain a dependable bottom-six forward who fills a vacancy and strengthens their fourth-line options down the stretch. 3: 00 p. m. ET Friday, the Kings acquired Scott Laughton from the Maple Leafs for a third-round pick, a move that alters the playoff math for both clubs.
Kings add Scott Laughton, filling spot opened by Corey Perry move
The Kings now have a veteran forward slot available after moving Corey Perry earlier in the day, and Scott Laughton slots into that vacancy as a gritty, situational option. Los Angeles sits 25-22-14 and is three points behind the Seattle Kraken for the final Western Conference wild-card position; the addition is aimed squarely at shoring up depth in the Kings’ push for a postseason berth.
That trade carries a draft-asset wrinkle: the third-round pick heading to Toronto becomes a second-round pick if the Kings qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, changing the long-term value of the exchange depending on Los Angeles’ finish.
Maple Leafs shift pieces: Laughton moved, McMann traded for future picks
The Maple Leafs moved two forwards at the deadline: Scott Laughton was sent to Los Angeles for a third-round pick, and Bobby McMann was traded west to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick. Those transactions turn roster spots into future draft capital as Toronto adjusts amid a difficult season.
Bobby McMann, a 29-year-old Wainwright, Alta., native, produced 32 points this season with 19 goals and 13 assists in 60 games and will reach unrestricted free agency this summer. McMann was in the second and final year of a two-year, $2. 7 million extension at the time of the trade.
Maple Leafs personnel decisions extended beyond those two moves: Nic Roy was previously sent to Colorado, and Laughton’s name had circulated before the deadline as one of several players held out of action for trade-related reasons. Toronto’s record stands at 27-25-11, leaving the club eight points out of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Bissonette reacts as panel debates Maple Leafs buzzer-deadline deal
Paul Bissonette and a hockey panel offered sharply different takes after the Maple Leafs dealt Scott Laughton to Los Angeles at the buzzer, with one on-air reaction captured by the line: “I’m going to have a nervous breakdown. ” The exchange underscored the partisan views on trading a versatile depth forward late in the deadline window.
Commentary highlighted Laughton’s reputation as a reliable, physical presence: he has appeared in 43 games this season, scoring eight goals and adding four assists for 12 points, and has been used in key situations down the lineup. Laughton’s availability and role prompted a range of reactions from analysts and former players on deadline coverage.
If the Kings clinch a playoff spot, the conditional aspect of the deal will shift the balance: the third-round pick sent to Toronto upgrades to a second-round selection. That single condition — Kings playoff qualification — is the clearest path to changing the trade’s value for the Maple Leafs.
