First and foremost, just a quick thank you to Scott Laughton.
He was drafted to the Philadelphia Flyers during a really weird time in the team’s history.
They had just moved on from Mike Richards and Jeff Carter.
The team’s identity was gone, but they were still expected to contend every year.
Laughton was originally thought of as potentially being the next Mike Richards for this team.
He was a 40-goal scorer in the NHL.
He never fully lived up to those expectations, mainly because they were a bit unfair and unrealistic.
He could play on the top line, he could play on the 4th line.
Most importantly, however, Scott Laughton was the main leader in that locker room.
Sure, Sean Couturier wears the ‘C’ on his sweater.
But Coots is more of a quiet, reserved leader.
By all accounts, it seemed like Scott Laughton was the heart of that locker room.
Keeping the mood light in there even when the teams have been dog shit.
Cracking jokes, making sure everyone feels welcomed on that team.
But the time finally came for the Flyers to go all-in on a rebuild.
Honestly, that time was like at least 2 seasons ago.
But the organization finally came to terms with it this year.
They traded Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost to the Flames earlier this year.
And now Scott Laughton is heading back towards his home in Oakville, Ontario to play for the Leafs.
It’s a great spot for him to end up.
At the end of the day, the Leafs are still the Leafs so I doubt that happens.
As for the return, the Flyers get a conditional 1st round pick and a Russian prospect.
They need as many people in that locker room who can communicate with Matvei Michkov as possible.
So in comes Nikita Grebenkin.
