The Flyers aren’t done with their general housekeeping just yet. It was announced today that Scott Laughton has agreed to a two-year extension with the team, keeping him on the team through the 2021 season.
The former first-round pick had a career year in 2018, setting new highs in goals, (12), assists (20), and points (32) in 82 appearances. What’s more exciting is his hot streak toward the end of the season. In ten games during the heart of a lost playoff race, Laughton tallied six points (four goals and two assists), with all four goals coming in a five-game span. The 24-year old really found his stride when the team needed him most.
Laughton ranked second among all forwards in average ice-time on the PK, an area of heavy need for the Flyers going into the offseason. During that same ten-game offensive tear, he also posted prolifically on the PK unit. Killing 25 of 28 handicap situations, Laughton and the PK allowed just three goals during that run.
The center is as durable as they come, missing just one of 164 possible games, but he’s also improving year-on-year. He’s proven to be versatile enough to handle LW duties and has really started to find his footing in the NHL. 52 of his 79 points have come in the last two seasons and if that growth continues, his emergence could help the third unit take that next step in 2019.
Now entering his seventh year with the organization, Laughton was one of four players sent a qualifying offer this offseason. Travis Konecny, Ivan Provorov, and Nicholas Abe-Kubel were the other three. This is likely a sign of things to come, so expect more exciting news regarding the future of some of the team’s hottest stars, very soon.
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
