Report: Maple Leafs Not Interested In Flyers' Asking Price for Laughton

It's common knowledge that the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the market for a centerman. A 2C or a 3C is priority for GM Brad Treliving to add before the trade deadline in a month.

But one of their targets, per insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, is a little too pricey for their liking.

Toronto is looking to see where they can make an addition. Scott Laughton is still kind of part of the conversation from a third line role, but the asking price is still high. I don't know if Toronto wants to give up any of their top prospects in order to make that happen so we'll kind of see where that goes. But Toronto is looking and they want to make something happen before the deadline.

The Flyers are said to be looking for at least a first-round pick for Laughton. The Leafs don't have a first-rounder this year, and it's doubtful they'd want to trade next year's on top of that.

The 30-year-old would make for an ideal addition for the Leafs, as he provides some physicality, great work on the penalty-kill, is a leader, and would be the perfect third-line center, plus he can also play the wing. He'd be a Craig Berube kind of guy.

Laughton, who still has another year to run on his deal with a $3 million cap hit, has had a love-hate relationship with his current bench boss John Tortorella this season. The head coach benched him at one point earlier this season after an on-ice mistake, but Torts has also frequently talked about how he values the veteran center for his leadership.

Laughton, 30, has 10 goals and 25 points in 52 games this season, but is receiving one minute less ice time per night (14:44) than he did last season, and 3 1/2 minutes less than during his career-best season just two years ago in 2022-23, when he popped 18 goals and had 43 points.

The 6'1" center regularly hands out 150 hits per season, and has 109 thus far this year.