Veteran heart Scott Laughton has solely been a member of the Los Angeles Kings for 14 video games, but his former Toronto Maple Leafs teammates already miss his presence.
Saturday marks Laughton’s first game against the Maple Leafs since becoming a member of the Kings at this yr’s NHL commerce deadline.
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He was solely a Maple Leaf for 76 regular-season and playoff video games after becoming a member of Toronto eventually season’s commerce deadline. However, his former teammates like the concept of Laughton returning to Toronto in free company, as he’s a pending UFA.
After the Maple Leafs’ apply on Friday in preparation for Saturday’s sport, Toronto’s Steve Lorentz was asked about the opportunity of Laughton returning in free company.
“Yeah, that’d be awesome!” Lorentz advised reporters. “We would welcome him back with open arms. I know there’s a lot of guys in this locker room that feel the same way.”
The Kings acquired Laughton from the Maple Leafs as a pending UFA. He is within the fifth and ultimate yr of his contract, earning $1.5 million against Los Angeles’ salary cap.
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Therefore, except Kings GM Ken Holland pushes to signal Laughton to a contract extension between now and July 1, the Oakville, Ont., native may go away totally free in the summertime.
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Leafs coach Craig Berube was requested if he may see a world the place a Laughton return to Toronto could be a match.
“Yeah, I could see it, for sure,” Toronto’s bench boss advised reporters. “He really liked it in Toronto, and he’s from around there, too. I think that was a… dream for him to go back home and play.”
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Along with fantasizing about probably reuniting with their outdated teammate, they shared how much of a great teammate he was and the way fortunate the Kings are to have him.
“I think you win with a guy like Scott,” Lorentz mentioned of Laughton. “He’s a glue guy, he plays the game the right way, he plays hard, and he’s definitely got the skill offensively and defensively to be out there in all situations.”
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Laughton is certainly a participant that may be utilized in all conditions, and that is precisely how Los Angeles has been utilizing him.
Since his Kings debut in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens on March 7, Laughton is the joint chief on the group in shorthanded time on ice per sport, together with defensemen Joel Edmundson, Mikey Anderson and Cody Ceci.
He’s additionally on Los Angeles’ second power-play unit and averages 1:12 of ice time per sport on the person benefit.
Furthermore, he is been so necessary for the Kings within the faceoff dot, to the purpose the place he takes the opening attract extra time to win possession within the further body. He has a faceoff win price of 58.1 p.c as a member of the Kings.
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With all he brings on the ice and within the dressing room, it is no marvel why his former Maple Leafs teammates have raved about him a lot since his departure.
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