Laughton is the heart and soul of the Flyers, but for the betterment of the franchise, and based on their current timeline as a rebuilding organization, the trade had to be done.

Two of the new Toronto players, Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo, made their Maple Leafs debuts on Saturday but are still adjusting to the shock of their sudden moves. Both players admitted they were still processing the reality of their new team, with Carlo calling it “a tough call to have.”

The Maple Leafs traded for Scott Laughton to centre their third line. His biggest role might come behind the scenes.