Scott Laughton stepping up for Flyers with an increased leadership role

With the injuries to Sean Couturier and then the eventual trade of Claude Giroux, there has been a leadership void both on and off the ice for the Flyers. They have more than a few veteran players in their lineup that have taken on new roles as the season has progressed. One of the players who has taken a large step forward in that has been Scott Laughton.

“Laughts has really emerged as a leader. I think it started a little bit with his play. He became real confident with his play. Obviously we had kind of a young group and a lot of new guys on the team. And he’s highly respected amongst his peers. His teammates really think the world of Laughts because they know that he comes to play night after night.” Mike Yeo said on Scott Laughton’s increased role.

Yeo also made sure to point out that Laughton’s increased play started back when the Flyers lost Couturier to injury. Couturier last played for the team on December 18th before his stint in COVID protocol and the eventual shutdown with more than a few nagging injuries. 20 of Laughton’s 29 points have come in the games following that.

Laughton did miss some time, however, due to a concussion. He suffered the injury against the Florida Panthers on March 10th and would go on to miss the next 12 games due to the head injury. He has not registered a point in six games but does sit just four points away from the career-high he set back in 2018-19. His 11 goals are three away from his career-high two seasons ago.

It’s a big step from where he started when he first came to the Flyers organization. He has played in various situations and roles, whether that be lower in the lineup or as a part of the team’s top six. Laughton earned a five-year extension before the deadline last season, proving the team sees him as a part of their current core group.

It has been more than just his play on the ice, though, that has been a help to a Flyers team that hasn’t had much to play for in a long time. As a well-respected player amongst his teammates, having that kind of effect on his teammates can help as the team finishes out this tough year. Laughton has earned the opportunity to wear the A on his jersey.

The qualities that Laughton has shown, though, haven’t just appeared now. He’s always been the type of player that others can look up to.

“So it’s funny, obviously now he’s getting the recognition of getting a chance to wear a letter, which is a big deal. But I think he’s someone that if you play with him, you realize he’s always kind of had that. Obviously he’s getting recognized in a more public forum for that now. But I think I’ve always kind of viewed him in that sense where he’s got that sort of temperment and mentality that a lot of good leaders tend to have.” James van Riemsdyk has previously said on Laughton’s leadership ability.

Laughton, in speaking before about the type of leader that he feels he is, always tries to be vocal on the ice and on the bench with his teammates. It’s also about bringing energy each and every night and having that same type of compete level no matter the situation.

That compete and motivation can be a hard thing to have when almost everything has gone against you. And the coaching staff can only do so much to make sure the players find a way to keep themselves engaged. In the end, it’s up to the players themselves to give themselves ways to stay motivated during these last four games. Whether that be playing for a contract or even a contract extension, each individual needs to have their own ways to keep themselves involved.

With Laughton seeing that increased responsibility in numerous avenues and continuing to put in the same amount of effort, his teammates will almost certainly follow his lead. With the amount of respect he has earned within that group, it is easy to see why the organization has stuck with him despite the struggles he showed early on in his career.

He has proven to many that he is cut out to be the type of leader that the Flyers need moving forward.