Whether they admit it or not, players are fully aware of the rumors that swirl around them. It's hard to avoid them at times, especially when they follow you year after year. Scott Laughton is one of those players that has heard his name in the rumor mill for quite some time.
The Flyers have held onto him throughout it all and there's still not a guarantee that a team will match their high asking price. They have set that asking price for a reason as Laughton is a valuable part of their locker room for many reasons.
But Laughton is very aware of the situation at hand. And that doesn't mean he can't have a little fun with it. He set social media ablaze on Friday night with his rendition of "The Last Supper." Most believed this was Laughton's way of saying that a trade was imminent.
— Scott Laughton (@Laughts21) March 1, 2025
But upon closer review, the only teammates in this photo were Travis Konecny and Erik Johnson. If this was going to be a true last dinner, there would be way more teammates involved. But that didn't stop the chaos from ensuing. And Laughton saw it all.
Even if Laughton was having a little bit of fun with his post, it's clear he has been more than aware about the trade rumors that surround him year after year. He is a player that a lot of teams covet as someone who can play up and down the lineup and provide depth scoring at times. He is a leader in the room and players respect him in that aspect.
Those reasons are also why the Flyers are not the ones shopping him. Sure, they've gotten calls. But Danny Briere is not the one seeking other teams out. That alone shows what he means to Philadelphia. And it shows how much Briere and Keith Jones are keen on making this city a destination to play in. The fact that the decision has continiously been hard on moving Laughton means they value more than just what he does on the ice.
And sometimes it is more about the on ice product. There are times where a tough decision does need to be made and that was done when trading two favorites in Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee. And if Briere feels that the right move will be trading Laughton, then it will happen. But for right now, it's going to take a team forcing Briere's hand when it comes to Laughton.
There is no hurry to trade Laughton as he has another year on his contract. It's not like he's playing poorly either. Nothing suggests the Flyers have to make the move right now. Laughton has done and meant a lot to not only the Flyers, but the city of Philadelphia. It's understandable that this particular move has not happened in the last few years.
It's a business and sometimes the right decision isn't always a favorable one. But sometimes you have to look at the personal side of things. And for a moment, we were all able to do that thanks to Laughton.