The Toronto Maple Leafs are enduring one of the most difficult stretches in recent franchise history. The team has dropped eight straight games and now sits at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. For the first time in nearly a decade, Toronto also acted as a seller at the trade deadline.
Now, a former Leaf’s performance elsewhere is raising new questions about what has gone wrong in Toronto.
Scott Laughton’s Quick Success in Los Angeles Raises Questions About Toronto’s System
Former Maple Leafs forward Scott Laughton was moved at the trade deadline, landing with the Los Angeles Kings after a difficult stint in Toronto.
Laughton recorded eight goals and four assists for 12 points in 43 games with the Leafs this season. Toronto had originally acquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2025 trade deadline, hoping his two-way play and experience would add stability to their lineup.
However, his production never really took off in Toronto. Across his first 40 games with the Leafs, including playoff appearances, Laughton managed just two goals.
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That narrative changed quickly once he arrived in Los Angeles.
In his first two games with the Kings, Laughton recorded two goals and an assist, immediately making an impact in his new environment. He scored in his debut against the Montreal Canadiens and followed it up with another strong performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The quick turnaround has led to questions about whether the issue in Toronto was less about the player and more about the system he was playing in. Laughton’s early success in Los Angeles suggests he may have been limited in Toronto rather than declining as a player.
Head Coach Craig Berube Faces Growing Pressure as Former Leafs Thrive Elsewhere
The Maple Leafs’ struggles have also placed increasing scrutiny on head coach Craig Berube.
Many critics believe Berube’s structured, low-risk system has taken away the offensive creativity that once defined Toronto’s lineup. In previous seasons, the Leafs relied heavily on speed and transition play driven by stars like Auston Matthews, but this year, the offense has often looked slow and stagnant.
Even Matthews, usually one of the NHL’s most dangerous scorers and a three-time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner, has struggled during the slump, extending his goalless streak to 12 games.
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The situation has only intensified as former Leafs players find success elsewhere. Laughton and Nicolas Roy have quickly made an impact with their new teams. Roy scored a goal in his second game after being traded to the Colorado Avalanche.
Toronto’s decision to sell at the deadline was already seen as an admission that the 2025-26 season had gone off the rails.
If the organization plans to retool and become competitive again by the start of the 2026–27 campaign, achieving that goal will be difficult without significant changes, possibly including a new voice behind the bench.
