Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
Toronto may sell, and it could hand Kyle Dubas the perfect Penguins deadline targets
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Kyle Dubas just got a gift, Toronto Maple Leafs trade chatter turns Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton into possible Pittsburgh Penguins targets.
Elliotte Friedman’s recent read was simple, Toronto may “sell,” but it will not be a teardown.
That matters for Pittsburgh, because “sell” usually means useful middle-six pieces, not just fringe parts.
McMann fits the profile, big, fast, and the kind of winger who can ride shotgun for stretches.
He is on the Leafs roster right now, so the availability isn’t fantasy talk.
Toronto reportedly wants a first-round pick for McMann, and that price tag is exactly why Dubas should call anyway.
McMann is 29, undrafted, and on a $1.35 million cap hit that runs through 2025-26, then he can hit UFA.
For the Penguins, that is cheap speed without wrecking the books.
Laughton is the sneaky one, because he is a center who can also play wing, and he chews tough minutes.
He is 31, a 2012 first-round pick, 20th overall by Philadelphia, and now he’s on Toronto’s roster.
Scott Laughton puts the Pittsburgh Penguins on notice
Penguins fans are tired of “nice try” seasons, so the idea of Dubas snagging functional NHLers, not lottery tickets, feels overdue.
Laughton’s cap hit is $3.0 million and his deal expires after 2025-26, so he is a clear deadline-type chip if Toronto really does pivot.
The fit is obvious, harder matchups, PK reps, faceoff support, and a coach’s trust player when games get tight.
If Toronto’s ask is too rich, Dubas still wins by testing the market early, because the Penguins cannot afford to wait for scraps.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Josh Yohe reveals Kyle Dubas trade deadline stance for Pittsburgh Penguins
Josh Yohe reveals Kyle Dubas trade deadline stance for Pittsburgh Penguins