The Philadelphia Flyers are in a weird spot. And everything that went wrong last season went wrong. The team was far away from being a playoff contender. Things went so bad they had to make a coaching change. To make matters worse, Philadelphia said goodbye to longtime captain Claude Giroux, who is now on the Ottawa Senators. There’s still a core of players in place, however, some may be on the go. In this edition of NHL Rumours, we look at the Flyers and the possibility Scott Laughton could be involved in a trade.
NHL Rumours: Philadelphia Flyers Could Trade Forward
The Philadelphia Flyers Season
The season the Flyers had was one to forget. They finished last in the Metropolitan Division and had the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference. In regards to that, the team performed terribly overall. The Flyers averaged 2.56 goals per game (31st), 3.59 goals against per game (27th), had the league’s worst power play, and 26th ranked penalty kill. Injuries destroyed the club and the team never really bounced back. According to Charlie O’Connor Laughton quoted and said,
“Even with the injuries this year and everything, I don’t think we were playing the right way even before the injuries,” Laughton acknowledged. “I think every guy’s got to take a hard look at the mirror this summer and see what went wrong in their game individually to try and help the team. That’s when it really comes together. These last two years I don’t think we necessarily played good hockey or (have) been a hard team to play against.”
The Flyers brought in John Tortorella to coach the team. Management missed out on signing Calgary Flames superstar Johnny Gaudreau and made a head-scratching move on signing gritty forward Nicolas Deslauriers. The Flyers have undergone changes, but could more be on the way? Could the team trade Scott Laughton?
Scott Laughton Stats
Scott Laughton originally signed a five-year contract that carries a $3 million dollar AAV back in 2021. He signed the deal at the trade deadline, and when he chose to remain in Philadelphia, the outlook on the team was wildly different. But Laughton himself is a good hockey player.
Throughout his NHL career, he has consistently put up 20-30 points. The extremely versatile center can play up and down the lineup, whether it be a top-six winger or a fourth-line grinder. Laughton is coming off one of his better statistical seasons. In 67 games played, he scored 11 goals, 19 assists, and 30 points. The forward was on pace for 37 points in an 82-game span, which is perfect for the role he plays. He posted a 46.23% Corsi For Percentage, a 42.17% even strength goals for percentage, and averaged 1.60 points per 60 minutes at even strength. Laughton went on to finish the year successful in the faceoff dot winning 51% of his draws.
Laughton has had to battle a lot the last two seasons. Between getting Covid-19 and suffering a concussion, Laughton is looking to bounce back and get back to being the player he was prior to all of that.
Could Scott Laughton Be Traded?
Scott Laughton could be involved in a trade. Despite signing that five-year extension with the club, things could go in a different direction. A lot has changed for the Flyers since the conclusion of the 2021 season. The team does not look like a playoff contender, even if John Tortorella makes the team more competitive.
To summarize, Laughton provides value. Not to just the Flyers but any team that wants to compete and win the Stanley Cup. Laughton is the true definition of a support player and depth piece that every contender wants. He is versatile, hard-nosed, can provide scoring punch, and is good on the forecheck. Back in 2021, he was coveted in the same fashion as Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow were. Necessary depth and value to help win a championship.
Could the Flyers part ways with Laughton? It remains to be seen, but if the team is on the outside of the playoffs, Laughton provides more value for another team than to them. Laughton has four years left on his deal and is only 28 years old. Any team looking for quality depth and leadership should come calling.
Transaction: We have activated forward Scott Laughton from injured reserve and have loaned forward Hayden Hodgson to the @LVPhantoms (AHL). pic.twitter.com/6Np69JKoS2
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 5, 2022
