Rumour: Toronto Maple Leafs Look To Make Trade With Eastern Conference Team

The market for centers this year at the trade deadline was thin enough to begin with. Now two of the top trade targets at the position are off the board after the Canucks acquired Elias Lindholm from the Flames and the Jets acquired Sean Monahan from the Canadiens.

The moves have come well before the March 8th deadline, leaving few options left for contenders looking to add depth down the middle. This is especially significant as center depth often is a deciding factor in the playoffs.

One center that remains on the board is Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers. NHL insider Darren Dreger has reported that the team would rather keep the 29-year-old, but they are also willing to listen to offers on him. As such, it may take a hefty price to add him this year.

At this point, Laughton could be the best option for the Leafs, should they want to improve down the middle. He is a well-rounded player who can chip in offensively while providing a significant boost to the team's penalty kill. The Leafs have expressed interest in Flyers defenseman Scott Walker, so perhaps a deal involving both players could be in the works.

The Leafs are currently 4th in the Atlantic division although they sit just one point behind the Tampa Bay Lightning with three games in hand on them. While they have not been in typical regular season form this year, they are still very likely to make the playoffs. Adding a player like Laughton would only increase their chances of going on a long run, especially if Sean Walker is coming with him. Stay tuned to see what the Leafs do.

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