Scott Laughton playing like a guy that wants to be big part of Flyers’ turnaround
Kevin Hayes brought it up pretty well in late October, even before Scott Laughton scored the first power-play goal of his NHL career.
“Laughty is a guy who fucks everywhere,” Hayes said. “It’s fun to see.”
It’s even better.
At 28, Laughton, who has more than paid his dues, becomes a threat in all circumstances for the Flyers. And he does it under the pressure of being the only Flyer to wear a letter on his jersey.
Entering this season, the first of the Flyers’ John Tortorella era, Laughton had never been a power-play player in the NHL. He had always admired Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds, Jakub Voracek and Sean Couturier as leaders.
He’s no longer a role player, no longer an impressionable young player just trying to fit in.
After not scoring any power play goals for nine seasons, Laughton has five power play scorers in 47 games this season. He also thrived on the Flyers’ aggressive penalty kill, leading the NHL in shorthanded points with seven points (three goals, four assists).
Laughton and teammate Travis Konecny are the only two NHL players with five or more points on even strength, power play and shorthanded play. Konecny is killing penalties for the first time in his NHL career, which helped spur his scoring resurgence.
For Laughton, he took advantage of his power play. He plays a career-high 18:48 minutes per game. With 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists), he’s on course to surpass his career highs in every major category.
When did Tortorella envision Laughton being an all-around player?
“When I started putting it in, it was successful,” Tortorella said on Jan. 22. he’s in every facet of the game.”
As players approach their thirties, they plateau or display another level. Laughton showed another level. If and when the Flyers become a playoff team again, Laughton wants to be a key ingredient.
He definitely played like that.
“Obviously I want to win here, it’s a special place for me,” Laughton said in December. “I want to be part of something you can be proud of and our city can be proud of.”
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