Maple Leafs Trade Target Drawing Interest From 2 Teams

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Maple Leafs forward Scott Laughton is being linked to the Red Wings and Avalanche

The Toronto Maple Leafs need to be watched incredibly closely between now and the 2026 NHL trade deadline. The Maple Leafs have made it clear that they are ready to be sellers, as they recently scratched Scott Laughton, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Bobby McMann for roster-related reasons. The Maple Leafs also have other trade candidates to watch, like Brandon Carlo, Nicolas Roy, and Calle Jarnkrok.

Laughton is certainly an interesting trade candidate on the Maple Leafs, though. The 31-year-old forward has an easily affordable $1.5 million cap hit, so he could be a fit on multiple teams from a financial standpoint alone. Yet, when noting that he also plays a strong defensive game, plays with an edge, and is a good leader, he is exactly the kind of player that contenders should be pursuing in a major way.

Now, an update on Laughton’s trade market has been provided, as it has been confirmed that two teams are looking to acquire the 2012 first-round pick.

Red Wings & Avalanche Looking to Acquire Maple Leafs’ Scott Laughton

With Laughton being one of the top bottom-six center trade candidates on the market, it is not surprising to hear that he is generating interest. According to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche are two teams that are looking to acquire Laughton from the Maple Leafs.

“A high-character, no-maintenance veteran, Laughton would bring attractive depth to any team bracing for a playoff run. The Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings are among those who have poked around on him,” Johnston wrote.

When looking at the Red Wings’ current roster, there is no question that they could use a center like Laughton. He could slot very nicely in their bottom six and would provide them with another clear option for their penalty kill. Furthermore, he would serve as a good mentor for the Red Wings’ younger players due to his leadership skills and experience. This would not be a bad thing at all for a Red Wings club that is looking to successfully make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Yet, Laughton would also have the potential to be an excellent addition to the Avalanche’s roster if acquired. It is not exactly a secret that the Avalanche would benefit by boosting the bottom half of their lineup, and acquiring Laughton would do just that. His physical style of play would also make him a good pickup for the Avalanche once the playoffs are here.

Maple Leafs’ Laughton Should Generate Interest From More Clubs

While the Red Wings and Avalanche have been confirmed as suitors for Laughton, there is no question that they should have more competition for his services. A few more teams that could make sense as landing spots for Laughton include the Buffalo Sabres, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes.

Nevertheless, it is going to be fascinating to see where Laughton ends up being moved to by the Maple Leafs. It appears that his time in Toronto is coming to a close, and it is clear that Detroit and Colorado are two big teams to watch in the sweepstakes.

Michael DeRosa Michael covers the NHL for Heavy.com. He has professionally covered the NHL since 2017 and has written for other publications like The Hockey News, BetMGM, Athlon Sports, and The Hockey Writers. More about Michael DeRosa