Leafs to swing a multi-player trade with Flyers to address two needs at once?

The Philadelphia Flyers have surprised many this season and currently sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 56 points. However, with Elias Lindholm being traded to the Vancouver Canucks last night, the center market is very thin which means that teams are gauging interest in centers that are under contract. One of those players, according to TSN's Darren Dreger, is Scott Laughton.

Dreger reported on Thursday that while the Flyers and GM Daniel Briere have no immediate urge to trade the 29-year-old, they are certainly not turning down calls on him. Laughton is in the third year of a five-year extension signed with the Flyers ahead of the 2021-2022 season, which comes with a $3M cap hit.

This past off-season, on his "32 Thoughts" podcast, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Leafs have had an interest in Laughton for years.




In addition to Laughton, earlier this week on "32 Thoughts", Friedman also wondered about Flyers defenseman Sean Walker, who will be a pending UFA at the end of the season. Also 29, Walker is in the final year of a 4-year deal that sees him earn $2.65M. If the Leafs are able to complete a trade that includes both players, it would allow the Leafs to bolster at the two biggest positions of need and give Sheldon Keefe increased roster depth.

If the Leafs were to acquire both players from the Flyers without salary retention, they would have to clear $5.65M in cap space. The easy way to do that would be to move out the struggling T.J. Brodie and another piece, but they will also have to add some sort of sweetener or sweeteners to entice the Flyers to trade Laughton and take back Brodie.

While it does not make sense to trade players at the same position as there would be no increased depth, the Leafs would be getting the type of players they need in Laughton and Walker. With the trade deadline fast approaching, Leaf fans are hoping the GM Brad Treliving is more aggressive than he had been while GM in Calgary at previous trade deadlines, as he made very clear this year that he likes to do his roster building in the summer.