Scott Laughton

Laughton's first season of a five-year deal he signed with the club in April 2021 was a bit of a mixed bag. The good news is that he posted double-digit goals (11) for the fourth time in five years, while also averaging a career-high 16:25 of ice time per game. The negatives were his minus-9 rating and the fact Laughton missed more than three weeks late in the season with a concussion. The 28-year-old is a solid depth player who brings some physicality to the Philadelphia lineup, but with exactly two power-play points in 441 NHL games, Laughton has zero fantasy value.

Fresh off a five-year contract extension, Laughton appears set for a consistent role in the Flyers' middle six in 2021-22. He's logged point totals of 32, 27 and 20 over the last three seasons, the two most recent being abbreviated by the pandemic. The 27-year-old has shown the potential for 25-30 points in a full campaign. He's also tough as nails -- Laughton's topped 100 hits in four straight seasons. He'll be counted on for a strong two-way game as the Flyers' projected third-line center on Opening Night, and fantasy managers should expect 30 points, 150 hits and 40 PIM, which makes him a solid pick in formats that reward grit.

Laughton was strong in a depth role for the Flyers last year, contributing 27 points and 109 hits in just 49 games after missing time with a broken finger and a groin injury. It was the best scoring rate of his career, but it was fueled by an unsustainable 17.6 shooting percentage. While there's still value in the fourth-liner's productive record as a physical player, fantasy managers should expect Laughton to shoot closer to nine percent in 2020-21. He'll likely end up with roughly 20 points, but that should come with over 100 hits, which could give the 26-year-old some appeal in deeper formats.

The 25-year-old came into his own during his third full NHL season, setting career highs in goals (12), points (32), shots on net (130) and PIM (53). He also chipped in 146 hits and 46 blocks while averaging 14:51 of ice time per game, all of which were also career bests. Laughton notched 19 goals and 39 points in 60 games at the AHL level in 2016-17, and he was definitely a scorer in the juniors, but he's better suited for a fourth-line role in the NHL. If owners are seeking an all-around contributor with virtually no chance of power-play time late in drafts, they could do worse than Laughton.

While centering the Flyers' fourth line last season, Laughton came into his own to post 10 goals and 20 points in 81 games. He received more ice time than ever before, and not only did he respond with a career best in offensive production, the 24-year-old recorded career highs in hits (126), faceoff wins (314), shots on goal (108) and PIM (42). The minus-10 rating was disappointing, but all in all, Laughton is one of the first fourth-line centers fantasy owners should target. With the exception of plus/minus and power-play points, Laughton appears poised to contribute again across the board.

Laughton has pedigree as a 2012 first-round pick, but after breaking into the NHL on an essentially full-time basis in 2015-16, he ended up serving most of last season for AHL Lehigh Valley, where he put together 19 goals and 39 points over 60 games -- decent numbers, but not the sort that get hearts racing. At 23 years old, he still has time to develop into a steady NHLer, but he isn't likely to rocket into the top-six ranks straight out of camp (if at all). That said, the Flyers just signed him to a two-year extension, so he’s hardly a forgotten man in the organization.

A first-round pick by the Flyers in 2012, Laughton has a golden opportunity to break into a top-six role in Philadelphia as he enters his second season. Last year’s campaign of 21 points in 71 games doesn’t seem to offer a lot of upside, but inconsistent own-zone play meant he saw little opportunity, averaging only 10:26 of ice time. A center by trade, Laughton was moved to the wing last year and saw a little uptick in scoring, but there’s room for considerable improvement this season. After top-liner Brayden Schenn, the Flyers are paper-thin at left wing, meaning Laughton should come into training camp with a legitimate shot at snagging a second-line role. Of course, a bad preseason showing could easily end with him being lumped in the minors, so Laughton’s worth watching early for signs that he’s grown his game.

Laughton is the Flyers' top offensive prospect heading into training camp. He's coming off a solid year in the OHL where he registered 40 goals and 47 assists in 57 games, and he has a real shot at making the Philadelphia roster this season. Just don't expect a ton of offense from him right away -- he'll probably be a pain-in-the-butt, fourth-line smasher who'll immediately win over the Philly faithful. His easiest path to making the team is likely on the wing -- the Flyers are stacked down the middle and are in greater need of depth on the outside.

Laughton put up decent numbers in the OHL last season--56 points in just 49 games. He's a former first-round draft pick who could sneak into the NHL this season. He's still young (19), however, and he's likely to start the season in the AHL, where he'll have to prove himself worthy of an NHL call-up.

Laughton spent the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons with Oshawa in the OHL, posting 23 and 53 points, respectively. The Flyers drafted the 6-foot, two-way center significantly higher than projected, showing a lot of faith in Laughton’s skill. He’s unlikely to see time with the Flyers this season, but once he has some professional experience under his belt he could prove worthy of his first round pick.