The Toronto Maple Leafs just kept waiting and waiting until the last possible day to make any moves.
In the end, the Toronto Maple Leafs GM, Brad Treliving, finally got things rolling and managed to complete two trades.
But with the Leafs divisional rivals in the Tampa Bay Lightning and especially the Florida Panthers loading up big time in preparation for the playoffs, did Toronto actually do enough to move the needle? In fact, will they even be able to keep pace with some of the most active deadline teams?
Let’s evaluate the trades that the Maple Leafs completed at the deadline to find out.
Grading the Toronto Maple Leafs 2025 Trade Deadline: Did The Leafs Do Enough?
Maple Leafs Acquire Scott Laughton, a 2025 Fourth-Round Pick and a 2027 Sixth-Round Pick from the Philadelphia Flyers
In obtaining Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers, the Maple Leafs finally got the ideal third-line center that they had coveted all season. Laughton’s tenacity and toughness, mixed in with his defensive skills and some surprising offensive output makes him a value addition to the Leafs lineup. On the season, the 30-year-old veteran has recorded 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points in 60 games played to date with the Flyers. But with Laughton being an Oakville, Ontario native, look for him to have that added motivation and energy playing in front of his home fans.
In addition to Flyers retaining 50% of Laughton’s salary, the Leafs also get back a fourth and sixth-round draft pick. But going the other way to Philadelphia is promising forward Nikita Grebenkin and a conditional 2027 first-round pick that is top-10 protected. Grebenkin impressed in his brief stint with the Maple Leafs earlier this season with his physical and aggressive play. He definitely needed some more seasoning but nonetheless showed signs of potentially developing into a grinding, power forward under the right environment. As for the pick, the NHL Draft is supposedly deeper for the 2026 class than the 2027 one, so it lessens the blow just a bit.
In the end, the cost appeared to be quite high in including a prime prospect and a first-rounder for just a proven middle-to-bottom six forward. But with the massive overpays being thrown around in the league in recent days to get trades done, a little overpay was needed. But more importantly, the Leafs managed to get their targeted player along with salary retention from the Flyers, as well as a couple of later round picks to help keep their cupboard not completely bare, all without losing their top prospects in Easton Cowan and Ben Danford. As a result, they deserve an A- for the move.
Grade: A-