Scott Laughton has gotten off to ugly start with Toronto Maple Leafs
Growing up in Oakville, new Toronto Maple Leafs centre Scott Laughton was well aware of the pressure of playing in the NHL’s biggest market.
Laughton, who was acquired on trade deadline day as part of a package centred around Nikita Grebenkin and a 2027 first-round pick, was brought in to be a defensively stable centre for his hometown team.
Playing for a Flyers team that had missed the postseason each of the past four years and was on pace to do so yet again, the trade offered a new opportunity for the 30-year-old.
Unfortunately for Laughton, he’s still waiting to make any notable on-ice impact with his new team.
Throughout his first five games, he’s been held entirely off the scoresheet, putting up a zero-goals-zero assists-zero points statline. He’s managed three shots on goal in those five games but is still searching for his first point with the team.
His biggest headline-grabbing move thus far was likely a fight on Saturday night in a matchup against the Ottawa Senators, but it’s unlikely that there will be too many of those come playoff time.
On Monday in a 6-2 win over Calgary, he was demoted to the fourth line for the first time in Toronto, spending the majority of his ice time with Calle Jarnkrok and Steven Lorentz. Given the high draft capital surrendered for Laughton, it’s not exactly easing fears that this trade will eventually be looked at as a successful one.
He’s been on the ice for six goals against in five games (four at even strength, two on the penalty kill) while skating during just one goal by the Leafs over that span.
If fans were hoping for their newest forward to make a splash right away, it seems like that chance of a strong first impression has been lost.
The biggest positive might be a 31-for-52 mark in the faceoff circle so far, but a career 49.8 per cent effectiveness there shows it’s more likely just a hot stretch than anything tangible.
The good news for Laughton: he’s still got plenty of time to turn his fortunes in Toronto around. It’s not do-or-die to see if the acquisition will pan out for the Leafs, as he’s signed through the 2025-26 season on a five-year deal he originally inked with the Flyers.
Laughton may just turn things around, but he’s officially having to work his way up from the bottom of the mountain to get back in Leafs fans’ good books.
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