In today’s NHL, there are too many trade rumors, speculations, and “what-ifs” to go around. One of the more intriguing scenarios that Toronto Maple Leafs fans discussed this season was the possibility of trading Matthew Knies for a star like Mikko Rantanen.

John Tavares can relate to what Laughton is going through. The Maple Leafs forward, who also grew up in Oakville, played his first nine NHL seasons with the New York Islanders before signing a seven-year, $77 million contract ($11 million average annual value) with Toronto on July 1, 2018.

It’s no secret that Scott Laughton has not had the start to his Toronto Maple Leafs’ career that he or anyone in the organization wanted. Since making his debut with the Maple Leafs following this year’s trade deadline,