NHL Trade Talk
NHL Trade Deadline Update: Two Laughton Competitors Off the Board
The March 7th NHL trade deadline is sneaking up, and things have been relatively quiet on the trade front.
On Tuesday’s Morning Cuppa Hockey, the Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli made an interesting comment regarding Scott Laughton and the market for middle-six centers/forwards.
Seravalli mentioned the league’s increased interest in Montreal’s Jake Evans, especially lately. He also said he believed that Montreal could get a better return for Evans than the Flyers have been offered/could get for Scott Laughton.
While I was a bit thrown off after hearing that, I looked into the stats and saw that the two players are very similar statistically. What could make Evans’ value higher? Well, he is two years younger and on a much cheaper contract. However, his contract expires at the end of the season.
Both players are penalty killers, but Laughton makes the difference as he is on the Flyers’ top power-play unit and the top penalty kill.
We will never know which of the two centermen would bring in the more significant haul. Evans is now off the market.
Read More: Flyers Trade Deadline Tracker: Rumors, Possible Destinations & More
Habs Extend Evans Ahead of the Trade Deadline; What Does it Mean for the Flyers?
Per Dave Pagnotta of The 4th Period, the Canadiens extended their fourth-line center, giving him a four-year deal with a $2.85 million AAV.
The Canadiens are much closer to the playoffs than they were expected to be this season. Getting Evans locked up was something the Canadiens likely wanted to do prior to the deadline, not ruling out trading him if they did not have to. Now, Montreal has a guy who is on pace for a 37+ point season locked up, rather than subtracting at the deadline.
If Evans truly was a name teams were more interested in than Laughton, that is big news for the trade market. If he was ever away from the top of the middle-six center market, Laughton is certainly back on top.
Evans was not the only player to come off the middle-six trade market.
Trent Federic Dealt to Edmonton in Three-Team Deal
The Boston Bruins sent center Trent Frederic to the Edmonton Oilers in a three-team trade including the New Jersey Devils.
Boston got a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick for Frederic. Prospects were also swapped in the trade. Edmonton got Frederic with 75% of his contract retained. Boston retained 50% of his contract, with New Jersey retaining 25%. The Devils received prospect Shane LaChance for taking 25% of Frederic’s deal.
Side note: James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now reports that the Devils will still be buyers at the deadline.
Frederic was not necessarily competing with Laughton in terms of trade value. However, the former Bruins’ center coming off the market certainly helps.
Read More: Trade Deadline Update: What Do Saturday’s Trades Mean for the Flyers?
Supply and Demand: When Supply is Low, Demand Goes Up
Although I did not study economics in college, I do know one thing. When the supply of something is low, the price of the remaining stock skyrockets.
Let’s apply this to the current NHL trade deadline situation.
Two middle-six centers came off the trade market today. That will drive the value of the remaining centers up even higher than it already was.
Despite the retention and prospects going out, Boston was able to fetch a second and a fourth-round draft selection along with a prospect for a borderline fourth liner. What does that do to Laughton’s market? It will undoubtedly drive it up. It now seems like a very good possibility that the Flyers will get offered a first-round pick for their alternate captain. That price likely grows even taller. Even if they get their ask, will the Flyers move Laughton at the trade deadline?
Read More: The Last Supper; A Scott Laughton Goodbye?
I don’t think the Flyers really want to trade Laughton. (I think I saw a faint halo above Scott’s head in that Last Supper picture). I’m sure Danny B is listening to offers but won’t move him for anything less than a high return.
Totally get why they would not want to trade either. Trading Risto leaves a BIG gap at the blue line, and trading Laughton takes away a physical and verbal leader. Danny is always listening, he would not be doing his job if he’s not. At this point, it seems more likley for Laughton to be traded and Ristolainen to remain in Philly. However, there is a price for everyone (except Michkov).
Erik Johnson and perhaps a promo for Helge Grans may have to occur to replace Risto on the right side.
Interesting, Grans has plenty of AHL games now under his belt so he is due to see if he can be a reliable 3rd pairing NHL defenseman.
Like to see what he can do for an extended period of time.
He was a King’s second round pick…..they seem to do well in that regard as far as scouting….they also took Brock Faber in the second round and traded him to the Wild in June 2022.
Maybe Grans can have the same outcome as the Kings/Wild trade.
If DB moves him to Laughton’s home-town team, the Leafs, the first round pick will have to be in 2026, since they do not have one this draft year……then assume a prospect will be added ….maybe a Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten or defense man Danford.
Then again Risto could also join Laughts in the package…so maybe more than one prospect comes back if that is the case.