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Brayden Schenn, St. Louis Blues (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Insider Reveals Why Maple Leafs Chose Laughton Over Schenn

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Spencer Lazary | Last updated Mar 8, 2025 11:25 AM ET

For weeks leading up to the March 7 NHL trade deadline, rumours circulated linking Brayden Schenn to the Toronto Maple Leafs. At one point, there was speculation that the Maple Leafs might look at bringing in Luke Schenn to reunite the brothers. However, that didn’t happen, as the Maple Leafs pivoted to Scott Laughton instead. Now, thanks to NHL insider Bob McKenzie, we know the reason behind it.

Schenn Doesn’t Agree to Waive NTC

McKenzie, who doesn’t make many appearances on TV anymore, still joins TSN’s Trade Deadline show . Yesterday, after the Maple Leafs traded for Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers, he revealed why they pivoted to him rather than acquiring Schenn from the St. Louis Blues. MacKenzie had this to say : “The Leafs were in a situation where they were trying to get Brayden Schenn… but it didn’t look like he was ready to waive [his no-move clause]… so Toronto went to go get [Laughton],”

Nowhere in his report did McKenzie suggest this was a shot at the Maple Leafs organization. It appears Schenn simply wasn’t ready to leave the Blues. As team captain and with them close to a playoff spot, it makes sense why he wasn’t ready to leave just yet. That doesn’t mean he won’t leave this summer or even at the next trade deadline. But for now, he wants to stay with the Blues. That is contractually his right, and he exercised his trade protection to stay where he wanted to be. As a result, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving went with Laughton instead.

Maple Leafs Land Laughton

As mentioned, the Maple Leafs traded for Laughton from the Flyers, as well as a fourth-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft and a sixth-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft, in exchange for Toronto’s first-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft and forward Nikita Grebenkin. The Flyers are retaining 50% of Laughton’s salary, bringing his cap hit down from $3 million to $1.5 million for the remainder of this season and next.

If the Maple Leafs had landed Schenn, given his term and $6.5 million cap hit until the 2027-28 season, it would have been unlikely that the Blues would retain more than 15-20%. That likely would have raised the asking price, subsequently making it nearly impossible for Toronto to acquire Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins.

Scott Laughton, Philadelphia Flyers (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

It is clear that Treliving’s pivot was the right decision, as it allowed them to bring in a top-four defenseman while addressing two areas of need. However, this wouldn’t have been possible if Schenn had agreed to waive his no-trade clause. If he had, who knows what the Maple Leafs would have done after paying a larger price to bring him in.

All in all, Treliving had a strong trade deadline day and made necessary moves to improve the team. Now that Leafs Nation knows why Schenn didn’t end up coming to Toronto, it shows how much Treliving was trying to improve the roster and push for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. Even more so after the report from Nick Kypreos that he offered Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, and draft picks to the Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen, but the Hurricanes rejected it based on them being in the same conference as Toronto.

Nevertheless, the Maple Leafs’ front office did its job. Now, it’s up to the team and coaching staff to go on a long playoff run and silence the doubters.