Scott Laughton gave Toronto something hard to replace in one body: penalty-kill stability, a steadying presence, and the kind of locker-room leadership that quickly won over both teammates and fans. But once he was dealt to the Kings at the deadline and then stayed in Los Angeles in free agency, the Maple Leafs chose a different answer than finding a single stand-in.
Instead of chasing one direct replacement, Toronto spread Laughton’s job across a cluster of new faces this summer. The team added Nick Paul, Teddy Blueger, Colton Sissons, Brandon Duhaime and Zack MacEwan, a group that looks built to harden the bottom six and strengthen the defensive side of the roster.
Laughton himself said he wanted to remain in LA because of how he was treated there, even if the whole process was a blur.
"It's a lot all at once but happy to go back to LA and fit in well there and have a good role. The guys treated me well and the organization was great to me.
A whirlwind of a month and you kind of don't know where you're going and it's a different process...I'm happy it's over and I can settle in and go from there.
"
That reunion would have come with a significant price tag for Toronto’s bottom six, and the Leafs clearly decided against going down that road. The new group carries contracts ranging from $875,000 to $4-million AAV, a spread that reflects role-player spending rather than a single big-ticket fix.
On paper, the defensive intent is obvious. Sissons and Blueger bring strong face-off work.
Duhaime adds energy, physicality and a relentless style. MacEwan supplies toughness.
Paul is the one with more offensive punch, while still offering the sort of two-way value Toronto liked in Laughton.
The tradeoff is offense. Toronto can point to a better defensive structure, but the scoring ceiling of this committee is still a question.
Sissons has never topped 35 points in a season, Blueger has never reached 30, Duhaime averages about 10 points a year, and MacEwan has barely scored. Paul, a former two-time 20-goal scorer, is the main swing piece if Toronto wants more production from the group.
That means the Leafs are banking on a few things breaking right. Paul needs a bounce-back year.
Sissons and Blueger need to deliver their usual 25-35-point range. Dakota Joshua has to give them a strong season and chip in offensively.
AHL hopefuls like Bo Groulx could also help.
In the end, Toronto’s bet is simple: Laughton doesn’t have to be replaced by one player if five players can cover the same ground. Whether that works out is still an open question, but the Leafs have made their choice and are sticking with it for now.
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