What factors have contributed to Laughton’s slow start with Maple Leafs?
Scott Laughton was supposed to be the solution at third-line centre for the Maple Leafs. But after just four games, he found himself on the fourth line. Adam Vingan analyzes Laughton’s slow start and why the Leafs need more moving forward.
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Scott Laughton was supposed to be the solution at third-line centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
But after just four games in his new uniform, Laughton found himself on the fourth line. And on Thursday, he did not even play centre.
Needless to say, more was expected from the native of nearby Oakville after being acquired at the trade deadline. Laughton has zero points and is averaging 12:55 of ice time per game for Toronto — down from the 15:06 he averaged over 60 games with the Philadelphia Flyers.
“He’s from here and got a lot going on and (family) and everything else,” Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube told reporters following the team’s 2-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. “You want to please, right? He’s got to forget about pleasing and play and do your thing. (He’s) a good player. That’s why (he’s) in the National Hockey League and (has) played for a long time.”
Berube cannot seem to find a place for Laughton, who has had four different sets of linemates in seven games. He started the first three games of his Maple Leafs career with Bobby McMann and Max Domi. They were dominated territorially, generating only 22.2 per cent of the expected goals at even strength. After starting one game alongside William Nylander and Calle Jarnkrok, Laughton landed on the fourth line between Jarnkrok and Steven Lorentz. That combination also struggled in two games (10.6 xGF%).
Then on Thursday against the New York Rangers, Berube put Laughton at left wing on a line with Lorentz and David Kampf (45.5 xGF%).
Over Laughton’s first seven games, the Maple Leafs have been outscored 3-1, out-chanced 20-7 and out-attempted 86-38 at even strength with him on the ice. His 12-game point drought, which includes his final five games with the Flyers, is tied for the second-longest of his career.
“I think he’s trying to probably play the game without making mistakes, and he’s overthinking things instead of just playing,” Berube told reporters Wednesday. “(I told him), ‘Go Laughts. Just play. Be aggressive. Do your thing.’ That’ll come around. I do believe that. He wants to do well, and he’s just got to loosen up and go play. … He’s holding back a little bit (and being) too safe almost.”
How accurate is Berube’s claim? Laughton has actually shown some improvement on the defensive side of the puck since arriving in Toronto. His 26 defensive plays, which include blocked passes and stick checks, are third most among Maple Leafs forwards since his March 8 debut, trailing only Mitch Marner (42) and Auston Matthews (34). Laughton has also won 56.7 per cent of his total faceoffs and 60.7 per cent of his defensive-zone draws.
Offensively, however, Laughton has been a total non-factor beyond the scoresheet. He has recorded three scoring chances in seven games — an average of 0.66 per 20 minutes. That is way down from the 2.07 chances he generated per 20 prior to the trade. Seven of Laughton’s 10 shot attempts (70 per cent) have come from outside the slot, compared to 50.5 per cent with the Flyers this season.
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Laughton did not come cheap. Toronto traded away another first-round draft pick (and forward prospect Nikita Grebenkin), and it is safe to assume that general manager Brad Treliving did not part with those assets for a fourth-line winger.
Berube has not done Laughton any favours by moving him around the lineup, but Laughton needs to find his game before the playoffs start.
“He is hard on himself, always has been,” Berube told reporters recently. “There’s mistakes in every game from everybody. We all know that. He’s got to just pull back a little bit with that and just play, play hard.”
