RUMOR: Toronto Maple Leafs To Make Blockbuster Trade With Playoff Bound Eastern Conference Team

Things are starting to heat up around the NHL as we approach the March 8th trade deadline. Now that multiple major trades have happened, the emphasis on making deals is growing for teams that are looking to make a serious push for a long playoff run.

Toronto Maple Leafs Interested In Multiple Flyers Players

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of those teams looking to make a long playoff run this year. The team is coming off their first playoff series victory in 20 years last season, but the run ended abruptly when they were bounced by the Florida Panthers in five games. Now the team could be looking to bolster the roster with players from the Flyers, a team that is also in the playoff race. The Flyers have already expressed a desire to move defenseman Sean Walker, and the Leafs are reportedly one of the teams interested in him.





Another player that could be on his way out of the city of brotherly love soon is 29-year-old center Scott Laughton. Many Leafs fans have expressed interest in the veteran center as he would provide some much needed depth scoring in addition to his positive defensive play.



Acquiring Laughton will come at a price, but it is not impossible. At this point he is arguably the top center still available on the trade market.

Flyers Unlikely To Trade Top Center At Trade Deadline

The last couple of days have seen the biggest name centers already moved, well ahead of the trade deadline. One might expect the Flyers to be getting more calls on Laughton now as teams have missed out on Flames center Elias Lindholm and Canadiens center Sean Monahan, both of whom will be joining new clubs after the All-Star break. It could be a perfect storm for the Flyers, who are reluctant to trade Laughton, but could see a bidding war develop for him.



NHL insider Darren Dreger confirmed today that the Flyers are unlikely to move Laughton, but they are willing to listen to offers.


Given the prices Lindholm and Monahan went for, the Flyers could be looking at a 1st round pick or more in exchange for the veteran center. The only question is whether or not that would be enticing enough for Danny Briere to pull the trigger. We will all just have to wait to find out. Regardless, it will be an interesting trade deadline to watch for Flyers fans.

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