Toronto continues to expand the list of trades that come back to haunt them.
It began with the franchise trading Fraser Minten to the Boston Bruins on March 7, 2025, followed by the infamous Mitch Marner trade to the Vegas Golden Knights that dominated headlines on July 1, 2025. Now, three more former Maple Leafs have been added to that list—including the very player Toronto received in exchange for Marner just a year ago.
The trade deadline that ended last March 6 not only scattered fan favorites across the league, but it also separated the team from its core depth. Among the players who left the city were Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton, and Nicolas Roy: all former Toronto Maple Leafs.
Scott Laughton - Los Angeles Kings
Born and raised in Oakville, a city about 20 miles south of Toronto—the place where every Ontario native dreams of playing for, Scott Laughton spent a year living out that childhood dream before his time with the Leafs came to an end.
Before returning home, Laughton was drafted 20th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft to the Philadelphia Flyers, where he recorded: 651 games played, 106 goals, 159 assists, and 265 points before finally heading home to Ontario.
On March 7, 2025, the dream became a reality when Laughton was traded to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Nikita Grebenkin and a conditional first-round pick in 2027. After the news broke, Laughton told TSN that he grew up a Leafs fan, describing the opportunity to wear the blue and white Maple Leaf on his chest as 'really special.'
In that year he played for his childhood team, Laughton recorded a total of 63 games played, 10 goals, 6 assists, and 16 points before packing his bags to move to America's west coast: Los Angeles.
The veteran was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on March 6th for a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Since then, he seems to be enjoying life on the West Coast, recording 3 goals and 2 assists for 5 points in just 13 games with the Kings.
As of April 2, the Kings stand at the second spot of the Western Conference Wild Card with 30-26-18. If the Los Angeles Kings lock in their wild card spot and make it to the playoffs, the third-round selection will become a second-round.
Nicolas Roy - Colorado Avalanche
The very player Toronto received for Mitch Marner is already packing his bags again. After just eight months in the blue and white, Nicolas Roy was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on March 5th, ending his short time as a Maple Leaf.
Before becoming a Knight, Nicolas Roy was drafted 96th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes before he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Erik Haula.
In Nevada, Roy has played a total of 362 games and recorded 68 goals, 98 assists and 166 points. His most successful moment in Vegas was in the 2022-23 season, where the Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup.
Following the blockbuster Mitch Marner trade, Roy's time in Ontario was short-lived. After less than a year in Toronto, he recorded 5 goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 59 games before moving to Denver. Since joining the Colorado Avalanche, the Québécois has played in 9 games and has already recorded 3 goals and 3 points.
The trade came with a silver lining, however. As difficult as it is to see his own name on a 'thank you' graphic posted on the Maple Leafs' social media, Roy went from a team missing the playoffs, to another shot to win the Stanley Cup. The Colorado Avalanche have already clinched a playoff spot and currently sit atop the NHL standings with an astounding 49-15-10 record and 108 points.
Bobby McMann - Seattle Kraken
Originally signed as a free agent in 2022, he spent four years in the organization, working his way up to become a staple in the lineup. In 200 games with the Maple Leafs, McMann recorded 54 goals and 37 assists for a total of 91 points before being sent to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a conditional second-rounder in 2027.
Since joining the Pacific Division, McMann has played a total of 9 games with the Seattle Kraken and has scored an astounding 7 goals, 4 assists, and 11 points—currently outscoring almost every active forward back in Toronto.
These kind of trades has led many to wonder if the city itself is the problem. There is a growing, haunting pattern: every time the franchise trades a player away, that player's true potential seems to unlock the moment they leave Ontario.
Many Maple Leafs fans are left watching from home, wondering what could have been if the franchise had simply let them play. It's the reality to witness the team sideline these players for months, only to watch them shine the moment they are finally given the opportunity to play elsewhere.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are hanging by a thread. With a record of 32-30-13 and only holding 77 points, they are in danger of missing the playoffs and snapping the franchise's nine-year streak. As the postseason approaches, the question remains: was it a lack of talent, or simply a lack of opportunity?