Scott Laughton did not start the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Kings; rather, he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs and played the majority of his games there last season. Then, on March 6th, on trade deadline day, the Kings traded for Laughton in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft. Before being traded to the Kings, Laughton had registered 8 goals, 4 assists for 12 points in 43 games.
Scott Laughton’s Kings Season
After the trade deadline, Scott Laughton, in the regular season, would play in 21 games for the Kings, registering 5 goals and 3 assists for 8 points. While the biggest move for the Kings was getting Panarin, Scott Laughton improved the Kings’ depth and penalty kill. The Kings organization highly valued Laughton, and one of their primary goals was to ensure he could stay in Los Angeles. Laughton would sign a 3-year, $3.5 million AAV contract with the Kings.
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So while the Kings were able to keep a player they valued, it also helped their center depth, which is one of the weakest points on their entire roster, especially after the retirement of Anze Kopitar. Scott Laughton’s defensive ability helps the Kings both at even strength and on the penalty kill, as they trust that he can be a strong defender against some of the best offensive players in the NHL.
Overall, the Laughton trade was a positive for the Kings, as they did not have to give up much to acquire him, but his extension with Los Angeles allows them to continue focusing on adding more centermen to the roster. While Laughton is likely not going to play top-line minutes, he still shows his leadership and strong play with depth, and if the Kings can add more to the center depth, Laughton’s value could get even higher for the Kings if he continues to play his strong game.
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